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Page 93
But the master-mason did not seem to enjoy the joke. He was one of those
unreasonable people, who care a great deal more for their own rights and
privileges, than for the convenience of all the rest of the world.
"Sam," said he, more gruffly than usual, "go call a constable."
So Sam called a constable, and inquiries were set on foot to discover
the perpetrators of the theft. In the course of the day, warrants were
issued, with the signature of a Justice of the Peace, to take the bodies
of Benjamin Franklin and other evil-disposed persons, who had stolen a
heap of stones. If the owner of the stolen property had not been more
merciful than the master-mason, it might have gone hard with our friend
Benjamin and his fellow-laborers. But, luckily for them, the gentleman
had a respect for Ben's father, and moreover, was amused with the spirit
of the whole affair. He therefore let the culprits off pretty easily.
But, when the constables were dismissed, the poor boys had to go through
another trial, and receive sentence, and suffer execution too, from
their own fathers. Many a rod I grieve to say, was worn to the stump, on
that unlucky night.
As for Ben, he was less afraid of a whipping than of his father's
disapprobation. Mr. Franklin, as I have mentioned before, was a
sagacious man, and also an inflexibly upright one. He had read much, for
a person in his rank of life, and had pondered upon the ways of the
world, until he had gained more wisdom than a whole library of books
could have taught him. Ben had a greater reverence for his father, than
for any other person in the world, as well on account of his spotless
integrity, as of his practical sense and deep views of things.
Consequently, after being released from the clutches of the law, Ben
came into his father's presence, with no small perturbation of mind.
"Benjamin, come hither," began Mr. Franklin, in his customary solemn and
weighty tone.
The boy approached, and stood before his father's chair, waiting
reverently to hear what judgment this good man would pass upon his late
offence. He felt that now the right and wrong of the whole matter would
be made to appear.
"Benjamin," said his father, "what could induce you to take property
which did not belong to you?"
"Why, father," replied Ben, hanging his head, at first, but then lifting
his eyes to Mr. Franklin's face, "if it had been merely for my own
benefit, I never should have dreamed of it. But I knew that the wharf
would be a public convenience. If the owner of the stones should build a
house with them, nobody will enjoy any advantage except himself. Now, I
made use of them in a way that was for the advantage of many persons. I
thought it right to aim at doing good to the greatest number."
"My son," said Mr. Franklin, solemnly, "so far as it was in your power,
you have done a greater harm to the public, than to the owner of the
stones."
"How can that be, father?" asked Ben.
"Because," answered his father, "in building your wharf with stolen
materials, you have committed a moral wrong. There is no more terrible
mistake, than to violate what is eternally right, for the sake of a
seeming expediency. Those who act upon such a principle, do the utmost
in their power to destroy all that is good in the world."
"Heaven forbid!" said Benjamin.
"No act," continued Mr. Franklin, "can possibly be for the benefit of
the public generally, which involves injustice to any individual. It
would be easy to prove this by examples. But, indeed, can we suppose
that our all-wise and just Creator would have so ordered the affairs of
the world, that a wrong act should be the true method of attaining a
right end? It is impious to think so! And I do verily believe, Benjamin,
that almost all the public and private misery of mankind arises from a
neglect of this great truth--that evil can produce only evil--that good
ends must be wrought out by good means."
"I will never forget it again," said Benjamin, bowing his head.
"Remember," concluded his father, "that, whenever we vary from the
highest rule of right, just so far we do an injury to the world. It may
seem otherwise for the moment; but, both in Time and in Eternity, it
will be found so."
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