he again became a printer, and the editor of
a paper called the _Pennsylvania Gazette_.

It was not long until Franklin was recognized as one of the leading men
in Philadelphia. His name was known, not only in Pennsylvania, but in
all the colonies.

He was all the time thinking of plans for making the people about him
wiser and better and happier.

He established a subscription and circulating library, the first in
America. This library was the beginning of the present Philadelphia
Public Library.

He wrote papers on education. He founded the University of
Pennsylvania. He organized the American Philosophical Society.

He established the first fire company in Philadelphia, which was also
the first in America.

He invented a copper-plate press, and printed the first paper money of
New Jersey.

He also invented the iron fireplace, which is called the Franklin stove,
and is still used where wood is plentiful and cheap.

After an absence of ten years, he paid a visit to his old home in
Boston. Everybody was glad to see him now,--even his brother James, the
printer.

When he returned to Philadelphia, he was elected clerk of the colonial
assembly.

Not long after that, he was chosen to be postmaster of the city. But his
duties in this capacity did not require very much labor in those times.

He did not handle as much mail in a whole year as passes now through the
Philadelphia post-office in a single hour.

[Illustration: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.]

* * * * *

XII.--FRANKLIN'S RULES OF LIFE.

Here are some of the rules of life which Franklin made for himself when
he was a very young man:

1. To live very frugally till he had paid all that he owed.

2. To speak the truth at all times; to be sincere in word and action.

3. To apply himself earnestly to whatever business he took in hand; and
to shun all foolish projects for becoming suddenly rich. "For industry
and patience," he said, "are the surest means of plenty."

4. To speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth; but
to speak all the good he knew of everybody.

When he was twenty-six years old, he published the first number of an
almanac called _Poor Richard's Almanac_.

This almanac was full of wise and witty sayings, and everybody soon
began to talk about it.

Every year, for twenty-five years, a new number of _Poor Richard's
Almanac_ was printed. It was sold in all parts of the country. People
who ha