tion, while his
son looked on with an excited face. It was a moment of destiny not only
to the two experimenters in the dashing rain, but to the world. If
Franklin should receive a spark from the key, it would change the
currents of the world's events.

Flash!

It came clear and sharp. The heavens had responded to law--to the
command of the human will guided by law.

Again, another spark.

The boy touches the key. He, too, is given the evidence that has been
given to his father.

The two looked at each other.

"Lightning is electricity," said Silence Dogood. "It can be drawn away
from points of danger; no one need be struck by lightning if he will
protect himself."

"God himself," once said a writer, "could not strike one by lightning if
one were insulated, without violating his own laws."

And now came the consummation of one of the grandest experiments of
time. He charged the Leyden jar from the clouds.

"Stand back!"

He touched his hand boldly to the magical bottle. A shock thrilled him.
His dreams had come true. He had conquered one of the most potent
elements on earth.

The storm passed, the clouds broke, the wind swept by, and the birds
sang again over the bending clover. Night serene with stars came on.
That was probably the happiest day in all Franklin's eventful life. Like
the patriarch of old, "his children were about him." He shared his
triumph with the son whom he loved.

But--he sent a paper on the results of his observation in electricity to
the Royal Society at London, in which he announced his discovery that
lightning was electricity. The society did not deem it worth publishing;
it was a neglected manuscript, and as for his theory in regard to the
electric fluid and universality, that, we are told by Franklin's
biographers, "was laughed at."

But his views had set all Europe to experimenting. Scientists everywhere
were proving that his theories were true. France had become very much
excited over the discovery, and was already hailing the philosopher's
name with shouts of admiration. Franklin's fame filled Europe, and the
greatest of British societies began to honor him. It was Doctor Franklin
now!--The honorary degree came to him from many institutions.--Doctor
from England, Doctor from France, Doctor from American colleges.

The boy who had shared his penny rolls with the poor woman and her child
sat down to hear the world praising him.

The facts that lightning was electricity or