. Benjamin Franklin: his autobiography : with a narrative of his public life and services. y, and what they have learnedbecomes almost useless, so that their time has beenlost, it would not have been better to have begunwdth the French, proceeding to the Italian and Latin;for, though, after spending the same time, they shouldquit the study of languages and never arrive at theLatin, they would, however, have acquired anothertongue or two, that, being in modern use, might beserviceable to them in common life. After ten years absence from Boston, and havingbecome easy in my circumstances, I made
. Benjamin Franklin: his autobiography : with a narrative of his public life and services. y, and what they have learnedbecomes almost useless, so that their time has beenlost, it would not have been better to have begunwdth the French, proceeding to the Italian and Latin;for, though, after spending the same time, they shouldquit the study of languages and never arrive at theLatin, they would, however, have acquired anothertongue or two, that, being in modern use, might beserviceable to them in common life. After ten years absence from Boston, and havingbecome easy in my circumstances, I made a journeythither to visit my relations, which I could not soonerafford. In returning, 1 called at Newport to see mybrother James, then settled there with his printing-house. Our former differences were forgotten, andour meeting was very cordial and affectionate. Hewas fast declining in health, and requested me that,in case of his death, which he apprehended not far LIFE OF FRANKLIN. 157 distant, I would take home his son, then ten yearsof age, and bring him up to the printing This I accordingly performed, sending him a fewyears to school before I took him into the mother carried on the business till he was grownup, when I assisted him with an assortment of newtypes, those of his father being in a manner wornout. Thus it was that I made my brother ampleamends for the service I had deprived him of byleaving him so early. In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of fouryears old, by the small-pox, taken in the commonway. I long regretted him bitterly, and still regretthat I had not given it to him by inoculation. ThisI mention for the sake of parents who omit thatoperation, on the supposition that they should never 158 L I F E O F F R A N K L I N. forgive themselves if a cliikl died under it; my ex-ample showing that the regret may be the sameeither way, and, therefore, that the safer should bechosen. Our club, the Junto, was found so useful, and af-forded s
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