
audiobook
The PRINTER BOY. or how BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MADE HIS MARK. An Example for Youth. - BY - WILLIAM. M. THAYER - AUTHOR OF "THE BOBBIN BOY", "TALES FROM THE BIBLE", ETC. - ILLUSTRATIONS BY JULIAN PORTCH - ENGRAVED BY BALE & HOLMAN. - LONDON JAMES HOGG & SONS
PREFACE.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
CHAPTER I. - THE WHISTLE.
CHAPTER II. - AT SCHOOL.
CHAPTER III. - A CHANGE.
CHAPTER IV. - MAKING CANDLES.
CHAPTER V. - THE ROGUE'S WHARF.
CHAPTER VI. - TABLE TALK.
CHAPTER VII. - CHOOSING A TRADE.
The story opens on a bright Boston holiday when a seven‑year‑old Benjamin receives his first pocket money. Excited and nervous, he rushes into the bustling toy‑shop, dreaming of the perfect purchase, only to be captivated by another boy’s whistle and the promise of its sweet sound. This simple episode sets the stage for a lively portrait of a curious child learning the value of choice and thrift.
Written in a dialogue‑rich style, the book lets young Benjamin speak and act just as history remembers him, weaving his famous maxims into everyday scenes. Readers watch him navigate family advice, friendships, and early experiments that hint at the ingenuity that will later define his adult life. Through these early adventures, the narrative offers timeless lessons on character, responsibility, and the power of a well‑spent penny.
Full title
The Printer Boy; Or, How Benjamin Franklin Made His Mark An Example for Youth. An Example for Youth.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (323K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Steven Gibbs, Richard J. Shiffer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2008-08-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1820–1898
A 19th-century American clergyman and writer, he became known for energetic moral tales and biographies written to encourage young readers. His books often turn famous lives and everyday struggles into stories about character, effort, and ambition.
View all books
by William Makepeace Thayer

by William Makepeace Thayer

by William Makepeace Thayer

by Herodotus

by Maria Edgeworth

by John Gibson Paton

by Ernest Thompson Seton