. The Century book of famous Americans : the story of a young people's pilgrimage to historic homes . for if we dont, we shall all hangseparately. Cheerful old fellow, was nt he? said Jack. I do like a man whocan make a joke just when you dont expect it. Franklin was always bubbling over with fun, Uncle Tom declared. The man who was quick to see the deep and serious side of life could alsosee its sunny and humorous side. That is what helped make him so wellrounded. That same year he was sent as minister to the Court of France,and secured the help of that nation for the struggling colonies. He
. The Century book of famous Americans : the story of a young people's pilgrimage to historic homes . for if we dont, we shall all hangseparately. Cheerful old fellow, was nt he? said Jack. I do like a man whocan make a joke just when you dont expect it. Franklin was always bubbling over with fun, Uncle Tom declared. The man who was quick to see the deep and serious side of life could alsosee its sunny and humorous side. That is what helped make him so wellrounded. That same year he was sent as minister to the Court of France,and secured the help of that nation for the struggling colonies. He livedthere ten years. Then he came home, was made president — that is, governor— of Pennsylvania ; went to Congress, and worked for and signed the newConstitution of the United States, when he was eighty-one years old, and,as you know, the oldest signer of that great document. Three years later,on the 17th of April, 1790, he died, aged eighty-four, and now lies buriedbeside his beloved Deborah, his wife, beneath that simple slab in ChristChurch burying-ground. THE HOME OF THE LIBERTY BELL 75. CHRIST CHURCH, Franklin and Washington went to church. What a busy life! exclaimed Christine. And think of the thingshe did that you could nt get into the story, Uncle Tom ! I think he musthave been a delightful old man. He was indeed, Christine, Uncle Tom replied, and as remarkableas he was charming. Self-taught, self-reared, self-made, the candle-makersboy gave light to all the world ; the street ballad-seller set all men to sing-ing of liberty ; the runaway printer brought the nations to praise and honor 76 THE CENTURY BOOK OF FAMOUS AMERICANS him. And he was so well balanced ! Witty, but never malicious ; inflexible,but never obstinate ; strong-willed, but never tyrannical; the wisest of men,but never conceited ; a statesman, but never a politician ; an office-holder, butnever an office-seeker: he had all the attributes and none of the vices ofgreatness; all the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectstatesmen, bookyear18
