
A vivid portrait of a Boston boy’s first steps into the world, this tale follows young Benjamin as he grows up under the watchful eyes of his practical father and his eccentric, poetic uncle. The family’s modest home, bustling with the chatter of a bustling port city, becomes the backdrop for the curious child’s early experiments with printing, lightning, and the power of ideas. Through a series of lively episodes—an uncle’s cherished pamphlet collection, a chance encounter with a traveling bookseller, and the lively lessons of a local schoolmaster—Ben learns the value of perseverance and the joy of discovery.
Blending careful historical detail with gentle fictional touches, the narrative captures the spirit of eighteenth‑century America without overwhelming the listener. The story’s warm humor and thoughtful reflections reveal how the values of thrift, curiosity, and public service were seeded long before the famous statesman’s fame. Illustrated scenes, described in rich language, help bring the period’s sights and sounds to life, inviting listeners to experience the formative moments that shaped a future founder.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (449K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Adrian Mastronardi and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2008-08-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1839–1905
A 19th-century writer and editor with a gift for turning history, travel, and faith into lively reading for young people. Best known for his long connection with The Youth's Companion, he wrote widely and traveled often, bringing a broad view of the world to his books and poems.
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