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Page 92
The boys, like a colony of ants, performed a great deal of labor by
their multitude, though the individual strength of each could have
accomplished but little. Finally, just as the moon sank below the
horizon, the great work was finished.
"Now, boys," cried Ben, "let's give three cheers, and go home to bed.
To-morrow, we may catch fish at our ease!" "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"
shouted his comrades.
Then they all went home, in such an ecstasy of delight that they could
hardly get a wink of sleep.
The story was not yet finished; but George's impatience caused him to
interrupt it.
"How I wish that I could have helped to build that wharf!" exclaimed
he. "It must have been glorious fun. Ben Franklin for ever, say I!"
"It was a very pretty piece of work," said Mr. Temple. "But wait till
you hear the end of the story."
"Father," inquired Edward, "whereabouts in Boston was the mill-pond, on
which Ben built his wharf?"
"I do not exactly know," answered Mr. Temple; "but I suppose it to have
been on the northern verge of the town, in the vicinity of what are now
called Merrimack and Charlestown streets. That thronged portion of the
city was once a marsh. Some of it, in fact, was covered with water."
CHAPTER VIII.
As the children had no more questions to ask, Mr. Temple proceeded to
relate what consequences ensued from the building of Ben Franklin's
wharf.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
CONTINUED.
In the morning, when the early sunbeams were gleaming on the steeples
and roofs of the town, and gilding the water that surrounded it, the
masons came, rubbing their eyes, to begin their work at the foundation
of the new house. But, on reaching the spot, they rubbed their eyes so
much the harder. What had become of their heap of stones!
"Why, Sam," said one to another, in great perplexity, "here's been some
witchcraft at work, while we were asleep. The stones must have flown
away through the air!"
"More likely they have been stolen!" answered Sam.
"But who on earth would think of stealing a heap of stones?" cried a
third. "Could a man carry them away in his pocket?"
The master-mason, who was a gruff kind of man, stood scratching his
head, and said nothing, at first. But, looking carefully on the ground,
he discerned innumerable tracks of little feet, some with shoes, and
some barefoot. Following these tracks with his eye, he saw that they
formed a beaten path towards the water-side.
"Ah, I see what the mischief is," said he, nodding his head. "Those
little rascals, the boys! they have stolen our stones to build a wharf
with!"
The masons immediately went to examine the new structure. And to say the
truth, it was well worth looking at, so neatly, and with such admirable
skill, had it been planned and finished. The stones were put together so
securely, that there was no danger of their being loosened by the tide,
however swiftly it might sweep along. There was a broad and safe
platform to stand upon, whence the little fishermen might cast their
lines into deep water, and draw up fish in abundance. Indeed, it almost
seemed as if Ben and his comrades might be forgiven for taking the
stones, because they had done their job in such a workmanlike manner.
"The chaps, that built this wharf, understood their business pretty
well," said one of the masons. "I should not be ashamed of such a piece
of work myself."
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