The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Printer Boy., by William M. Thayer

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Title: The Printer Boy.
Or How Benjamin Franklin Made His Mark. An Example for Youth.

Author: William M. Thayer

Release Date: August 13, 2008 [EBook #26295]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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obvious error is noted at the end of this ebook.]

The

PRINTER BOY.

OR

HOW

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
MADE HIS MARK.

AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUTH.

BY

WILLIAM. M. THAYER

AUTHOR OF "THE BOBBIN BOY", "TALES FROM THE BIBLE", ETC.

[Illustration: Medallion of Benjamin Franklin.]

ILLUSTRATIONS BY
JULIAN PORTCH

ENGRAVED BY
BALE & HOLMAN.

LONDON
JAMES HOGG & SONS

[Illustration: "How much did you give for your whistle!"--See page 4.]

PREFACE.

This book is designed to illustrate the familiar maxim, that "THE BOY
IS FATHER TO THE MAN." The early life of Franklin is sketched from his
childhood to the time he was established in business, thus showing
what he was in boyhood and youth; and the achievements of his manhood
are summed up in a closing chapter, to substantiate the truth of the
above proverb.

The author believes that the lives of distinguished men may be
incorporated into a story, uniting narrative and dialogue so as to be
more attractive to the young. John Bunyan was the first to adopt this
style, and his inimitable Pilgrim's Progress charms the young reader,
not only by its graphic imagery, but also by its alternation of
narrative and dialogue. Since his day, others have adopted a similar
style, particularly in works of fiction, with success. Why may not
truth appear in such a dress as successfully as fiction? Why may not
_actual_ lives be presented in this manner as vividly as _im