er the past with him now. What a
review it is!

He had founded literary and scientific clubs in his early life that had
made not idlers, but men. He had founded the first subscription library
in America. It had multiplied, and in its many branches had become a
national influence.

He made a stove that was a family luxury, and showed how it might be
enjoyed without a smoky chimney.

He had shown that lightning was electricity and could be controlled, and
had disarmed the thunder cloud by a simple rod.

He had founded the High School in Pennsylvania.

He had encouraged the raising of silk.

He had helped found the Philadelphia Hospital, and had founded the
American Philosophical Society.

He had promoted the scheme for uniting the colonies.

He had signed the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of the
Alliance with France, the Treaty of Peace between England and the United
States, and the draft of the Constitution of the United States.

We may truly say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." But there
remains yet one paper to sign. It is his will. The influence of that
paper is felt in the world to-day, but nowhere more than in Boston. In
this will he made provision for lending the interest of great bequests
to poor citizens, he left the fund for the Franklin Silver Medal in
Boston schools, and he sought to be a benefactor to the children of
Boston after a hundred years. This will has the following words:

"If this plan is executed, and succeeds as projected without
interruption for one hundred years, the sum will then be one hundred and
thirty-one thousand pounds, of which I would have the managers of the
donation to the town of Boston then lay out, at their discretion, one
hundred thousand pounds in public works, which may be judged of most
general utility to the inhabitants, such as fortifications, bridges,
aqueducts, public buildings, baths, pavements, or whatever may make
living in the town more convenient to its people, and render it more
agreeable to strangers resorting thither for health or a temporary
residence. The remaining thirty-one thousand pounds I would have
continued to be let out on interest, in the manner above directed, for
another hundred years, as I hope it will have been found that the
institution has had a good effect on the conduct of youth, and been of
service to many worthy characters and useful citizens. At the end of
this second term, if no unfortunate accident has preve