out in life in their father's trade of soapand candle-making. Although Benjamin objected to their stamping the Franklin arms on their cakes of soap, he ordered quantities of their wares from them both, which his wife retailed in his book-shop in Philadelphia, and increased the sale by recurrent advertisements in Franklin's paper, which announced with each consignment:

Just imported, another Parcel of
SUPER FINE CROWN SOAP.

It cleanses fine Linens, Muslins, Laces, Chinces, Cambricks &c. with Ease and Expedition, which often suffer more from the long and hard Rubbing of the Washer, through the ill Qualities of the Soap they use, than the Wearing. It is excellent for

John postmaster of Boston, and Peter postmaster of Philadelphia. Of the former Franklin says, in his autobiography, that " he always lov'd me "; and though there was some family joking about Peter's perpetual doctoring of himself, so that " he cures himself many times a day," Benjamin seems to have been fond of him also, showing evident grief when "it pleased God at length to take from us my only remaining brother." He aided the two widows, establishing one in business, and continuing the other as postmistress, thus making her, so far as is known, the first woman to hold public office in America.

"He that has neither fools nor beggars among his kindred, is the son of thundergust," remarked Poor Richard; and Frank

lin's sisters were no more prosperous in life than were his brothers. The eldest, Elizabeth, when over eighty years old, came to extreme poverty, and her relatives consulted the only successful member of the family as to whether her house and "fine things" should be sold.

As having their own way is one of the greatest comforts of life to old people [Benjamin replied],

I think their friends should endeavour to accom

modate them in that, as well as in any thing else. When they have long lived in a house, it becomes natural to them; they are almost as closely connected with it as the tortoise with his shell; they

children. Several of these drifted to London before the Revolution, and appealed to their uncle, when he came to France, for various kinds of assistance. One was "Obliged to Worke very hard and Can But just git the common necessarys of life," and therefore has "thoughts of going into a family as housekeeper . . . having lived in that station for several years and gave grate satisfaction." She sought his aid in securing the promotion of her son, then in the British navy-a peculiar request, considering Franklin's relations, or lack of relations, at the moment, with the British government.

die, if you tear them out of it; old folks and old trees, if you remove them, it is ten to one that you kill them; so let our good old sister be no more importuned on that head. We are growing old fast ourselves, and shall expect the same kind of indulgences; if we give them, we shall have a right to receive them in our turn. And as to her few fine things, I think she is in the right not to sell them, and for the reason she gives, that they will fetch but little; when that little is spent, they would be of no further use to her; but perhaps the expectation of possessing them at her death may make that person tender and careful of her, and helpful to her to the amount of ten times their value. If so, they are put to the best use they possibly can be.

A small bequest was made in Franklin's will to his sister Ann's children and grand

Toward another, Jonathan Williams, the uncle seems to have been well disposed. He took charge of his education while in London, made the young fellow his secretary for a time, and finally was instrumental in having him made commercial agent of the United States in France during the Revolution, an appointment that caused first "oblique Censures," and ultimately outspoken denunciations. Williams was accused of dishonesty, and his uncle promptly wrote:

I have no desire to screen Mr. Williams on ac

count of his being my nephew; if he is guilty of what you charge him with, I care not how soon he is deservedly punished and the family purged of him; for I take it that a rogue living in a family is a greater disgrace to it than one hanged out of it.