When Ben Franklin was 16 years old he took an apprenticeship with his older brother James. James published one of the first newspapers of the colonies which was called, “The New England Current.” This was in Boston, approximately around the year 1720.
They had a handful of writers that submitted stories and articles, and they often would gather and share stories. Ben would listen to these men, and one day he asked James if he could take a try at writing, and James wasn’t really too keen at the idea. Ben started writing under a fake name and putting them under the door at night.
He chose the name Silence Dogood. In his first article he explained who she was.
Silence had come over from England several years earlier. Her passage had been paid by a minister in Boston, and she was to be his servant until she paid back the money that he had put forth. This was a common practice in those days and the way many immigrants raised money to make the trip. After a couple of years the minister asked her to marry him. At first she laughed and after some consideration she accepted his proposal.
The minister had a vast library which was rare in those days as books were quite expensive. Also she would inherit the ministers meager possessions. Each week Ben would slip the article under the door late at night. At first they had no idea who had written it, then later they started to suspect that it might be Ben. Ben wrote for 18 weeks and then went on to bigger and better things.
James died at an early age and Ben took over publishing the paper, and also put out another paper for many years. Ben is remembered for his publication of “Poor Richard’s Almanac.” Over a span of 25 years Ben produced over 10,000 copies of the almanac. In those days the average man’s library would consist of two books, the Bible and Poor Richard’s Almanac.
“A penny saved is a penny earned.” Ben Franklin tried to help the colonists have a better life. To be frugal with their money, to work hard, and live as God fearing people. In Silence Dogood he spoke against heavy taxes levied by the king, burdens placed upon people by the churches. Ben didn’t like colleges, but he was instrumental in founding a college that still exist today. He was a self-taught man, curious about everything, a scientist and a writer.
—James Neuhouse
