|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 91
"This is very uncomfortable," said Ben Franklin one day to his comrades,
while they were standing mid-leg deep in the quagmire.
"So it is," said the other boys. "What a pity we have no better place to
stand!"
If it had not been for Ben, nothing more would have been done or said
about the matter. But it was not in his nature to be sensible of an
inconvenience, without using his best efforts to find a remedy. So, as
he and his comrades were returning from the water-side, Ben suddenly
threw down his string of fish with a very determined air:
"Boys," cried he, "I have thought of a scheme, which will be greatly for
our benefit, and for the public benefit!"
It was queer enough, to be sure, to hear this little chap--this
rosy-cheeked, ten-year-old boy--talking about schemes for the public
benefit! Nevertheless, his companions were ready to listen, being
assured that Ben's scheme, whatever it was, would be well worth their
attention. They remembered how sagaciously he had conducted all their
enterprises, ever since he had been old enough to wear small-clothes.
They remembered, too, his wonderful contrivance of sailing across the
mill-pond by lying flat on his back, in the water, and allowing himself
to be drawn along by a paper-kite. If Ben could do that, he might
certainly do any thing.
"What is your scheme, Ben?--what is it?" cried they all.
It so happened that they had now come to a spot of ground where a new
house was to be built. Scattered round about lay a great many large
stones, which were to be used for the cellar and foundation. Ben mounted
upon the highest of these stones, so that he might speak with the more
authority.
"You know, lads," said he, "what a plague it is, to be forced to stand
in the quagmire yonder--over shoes and stockings (if we wear any) in mud
and water. See! I am bedaubed to the knees of my small-clothes, and you
are all in the same pickle. Unless we can find some remedy for this
evil, our fishing-business must be entirely given up. And, surely, this
would be a terrible misfortune!"
"That it would!--that it would!" said his comrades, sorrowfully.
"Now I propose," continued Master Benjamin, "that we build a wharf, for
the purpose of carrying on our fisheries. You see these stones. The
workmen mean to use them for the underpinning of a house; but that would
be for only one man's advantage. My plan is to take these same stones,
and carry them to the edge of the water and build a wharf with them.
This will not only enable us to carry on the fishing business with
comfort, and to better advantage, but it will likewise be a great
convenience to boats passing up and down the stream. Thus, instead of
one man, fifty, or a hundred, or a thousand, besides ourselves, may be
benefited by these stones. What say you, lads?--shall we build the
wharf?"
Ben's proposal was received with one of those uproarious shouts,
wherewith boys usually express their delight at whatever completely
suits their views. Nobody thought of questioning the right and justice
of building a wharf, with stones that belonged to another person.
"Hurrah, hurrah!" shouted they. "Let's set about it!"
It was agreed that they should all be on the spot, that evening, and
commence their grand public enterprise by moonlight. Accordingly, at the
appointed time, the whole gang of youthful laborers assembled, and
eagerly began to remove the stones. They had not calculated how much
toil would be requisite, in this important part of their undertaking.
The very first stone which they laid hold of, proved so heavy, that it
almost seemed to be fastened to the ground. Nothing but Ben Franklin's
cheerful and resolute spirit could have induced them to persevere.
Ben, as might be expected, was the soul of the enterprise. By his
mechanical genius, he contrived methods to lighten the labor of
transporting the stones; so that one boy, under his directions, would
perform as much as half a dozen, if left to themselves. Whenever their
spirits flagged, he had some joke ready, which seemed to renew their
strength by setting them all into a roar of laughter. And when, after an
hour or two of hard work, the stones were transported to the water-side,
Ben Franklin was the engineer, to superintend the construction of the
wharf.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|