BOSTON AND LONDON
                   by Benjamin Franklin
                         1722-1726

                  _Silence Dogood, No. 1_

         _To the Author of the_ New-England Courant.

        _Sir,_
        It may not be improper in the first Place to inform your
Readers, that I intend once a Fortnight to present them, by the Help
of this Paper, with a short Epistle, which I presume will add
somewhat to their Entertainment.

        And since it is observed, that the Generality of People, now a
days, are unwilling either to commend or dispraise what they read,
until they are in some measure informed who or what the Author of it
is, whether he be _poor_ or _rich_, _old_ or _young_, a _Schollar_ or
a _Leather Apron Man_, &c. and give their Opinion of the Performance,
according to the Knowledge which they have of the Author's
Circumstances, it may not be amiss to begin with a short Account of
my past Life and present Condition, that the Reader may not be at a
Loss to judge whether or no my Lucubrations are worth his reading.

        At the time of my Birth, my Parents were on Ship-board in their
Way from _London_ to _N. England._ My Entrance into this troublesome
World was attended with the Death of my Father, a Misfortune, which
tho' I was not then capable of knowing, I shall never be able to
forget; for as he, poor Man, stood upon the Deck rejoycing at my
Birth, a merciless Wave entred the Ship, and in one Moment carry'd
him beyond Reprieve.  Thus was the _first Day_ which I saw, the
_last_ that was seen by my Father; and thus was my disconsolate
Mother at once made both a _Parent_ and a _Widow._

        When we arrived at _Boston_ (which was not long after) I was
put to Nurse in a Country Place, at a small Distance from the Town,
where I went to School, and past my Infancy and Childhood in Vanity
and Idleness, until I was bound out Apprentice, that I might no
longer be a Charge to my Indigent Mother, who was put to hard Shifts
for a Living.

        My Master was a Country Minister, a pious good-natur'd young
Man, & a Batchelor: He labour'd with all his Might to instil vertuous
and godly Principles into my tender Soul, well knowing that it was
the most suitable Time to make deep and lasting Impressions on the
Mind, while it was yet untainted with Vice, free and unbiass'd.  He
endeavour'd that I might be instructed in all that Knowledge and
Learning which is necessary for our Sex, and deny'd me no
Accomplishment that could possibly be attained in a Country Place;
such as all Sorts of Needle-Work, Writing, Arithmetick, &c. and
observing that I took a more than ordinary Delight in reading
ingenious Books, he gave me the free Use of his Library, which tho'
it was but small, yet it was well chose, to inform the Understanding
rightly, and enable the Mind to frame great and noble Ideas.

        Before I had liv'd quite two Years with this Reverend
Gentleman, my indulgent Mother departed this Life, leaving me as it
were by my self, having no Relation on Earth within my Knowledge.

        I will not abuse your Patience with a tedious Recital of all
the frivolous Accidents of my Life, that happened from this Time
until I arrived to Years of Discretion, only inform you that I liv'd
a chearful Country Life, spending my leisure Time either in some
innocent Diversion with the neighbouring Females, or in some shady
Retirement, with the best of Company, _Books._ Thus I past away the
Time with a Mixture of Profit and Pleasure, having no Affliction but
what was imaginary, and created in my own Fancy; as nothing is more
common with us Women, than to be grieving for nothing, when we have
nothing else to grieve for.

        As I would not engross too much of your Paper at once, I will
defer the Remainder of my Story until my next Letter; in the mean
time desiring your Readers to exercise their Patience, and bear with
my Humours now and then, because I shall trouble them but seldom.  I
am not insensible of the Impossibility of pleasing all, but I would
not willingly displease any; and for those who will take Offence
where none is intended, they are beneath the Notice of
                                         _Your Humble Servant,_
                                                 SILENCE DOGOOD.

        _The New-England Courant_, April 2, 1722

        _Silence Dogood, No. 2_

        _To the Author of the_ New-England Courant.

        _SIR,_
        Histories of Lives are seldom entertaining, unless they contain
something either admirable or exemplar: And since there is little or
nothing of this Nature in my own Adventures, I will not tire your
Readers with tedious Particulars of no Consequence, but will briefly,
and in as few Words as possible, relate the most material Occurrences
of my Life, and according to my Promise, confine all to this Letter.

        My Reverend Master who had hitherto remained a Batchelor,
(after much Meditation on the Eighteenth verse of the Second Chapter
of _Genesis_,) took up a Resolution to marry; and having made several
unsuccessful fruitless Attempts on the more topping Sort of our Sex,
and being tir'd with making troublesome Journeys and Visits to no
Purpose, he began unexpectedly to cast a loving Eye upon Me, whom he