one wonder story, and this was the one
wonder story of the Franklin side of the family. Uncle Benjamin wished
the two "aunts" to hear this story "on his side of the house."

"There was only one of our family in England who ever became great, and
that was my Uncle Thomas," he began.

"Only think of that, little Ben," said Aunt Hannah Folger, "only one."

"Only one," said Aunt Prudence Folger, "and may you become like him."

"He was born a smith, and so he was bred, for it was the custom of our
family that the eldest son should be a smith--a Franklin."

"Sit very still, my little boy," said the two aunts, "and you shall be
told what happened. He was a smith."

"There was a man in our town," continued Uncle Ben, "whose name was
Palmer, and he became an esquire."

"Maybe that _you_ will become an esquire," said Aunt Esther to Ben.

"He became an esquire," said Aunt Prudence. "Sit very still, and you
shall hear."

"This man liked to encourage people; he used to say good things of them
so as to help them grow. If one encourage the good things which one
finds in people it helps them. It is a good thing to say good words."

"If you do not say too many," said Josiah Franklin. "I sometimes think
we do to little Ben."

"Well, this Esquire Palmer told Uncle Tom one day that he would make a
good lawyer. Tom was very much surprised, and said, 'I am poor; if I had
any one to help me I would study for the bar.' 'I will help you,' said
Esquire Palmer. So Uncle Tom dropped the hammer and went to school."

"And _you_ may one day leave the candle shop and go to school," said
Aunt Esther, moralizing.

"I hope so," said little Ben humbly.

"Not but that the candle shop is a very useful place," said the other
aunt.

"Uncle Tom read law, and began to practice it in the town and county of
Northampton. He was public-spirited, and he became a leader in all the
enterprises of the county, and people looked up to him as a great man.
Everything that he touched improved."

"Just think of that," said Aunt Esther to Ben. "Everything that he
touched improved. That is the way to make success for yourself--help
others."

"May you profit by his example, Ben," said Aunt Prudence, bobbing her
cap border.

"He made everything better--the church, the town, the public ways, the
societies, the homes. He was a just man, and he used to say that what
the world wanted was _justice_. Everybody found him a friend, except he
who was unjust. And a