美国文学(本杰明富兰克林)

American literature
Chapter 1 The Embryo of American Literature
1、Benjamin Franklin
A Brief Introduction of Benjamin Franklin
Franklin was one of the leading founding fathers of the United States of America. He was a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence and was one of its signatories(签名人)。

He also signed the Constitution of the United States, and served as the new nation’s ablest diplomat. Franklin was also unequaled in America as an inventor until Thomas Edison. He invented the Franklin stove(火炉，窖，温室)，bifocal eyeglasses and the lightning rod.
※Biography
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17,1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the youngest child ,and tenth boy of 17 children. Franklin’s formal schooling ended early but his education never did. He believed that “the door to wisdom are never shut,” and read every book he could get his hands on. Franklin taught himself simple algebra and geometry ,navigation, logic, history, science, English grammar and a working knowledge of five other languages.
Franklin had a simple formula for success. He believed that successful people worked just a little harder than other people. Benjamin Franklin certainly did. He built a successful printing and publishing business in Philadelphia; he conducted scientific studies of electricity and made several important discoveries; he was an accomplished diplomat and statesman; he helped establish Pennsylvania’s first university and America’s first city hospital. He also organized the country’s first subscription library.
Franklin had strong belief that good citizenship included an obligation of public service. Franklin himself served the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the new United States of America, in one way or the other, for most of his life. To Benjamin Franklin there was no greater purpose in life than to“live usefully.”
※The Works
·Poor Richard’s Almanac.1733
·The Way to Wealth,1758
·Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin ，1791
·Benjamin Franklin’s Thirteen Virtues
1TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2SIlENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3ORDER.Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4RESOLUTION.Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e.,waste nothing.
6INDUSTRY.Lose no time;be always employeed in something useful; cut off all unneccessary actions.
7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
※Selected Reading
Too Dear for the Whistle
When I was a child of seven years old , my friends , on a holiday ,filled my pocket with coppers . I went at once to a shop where they sold toys for children . Being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I had seen by the way , in the hands of another boy , I handed over all my money for one . I then came home , went whistling all over house , much pleased with my whistle , but disturbing all my family .My brother and sister and cousins ,when I told of the bargain I had made,said I had given four times as much as the whistle was worth . They put me in mind of what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money, and laughed at me so much for my folly that I cried with vexation(n.苦恼，恼怒，令人烦恼的事) . Thinking about the matter gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.
This , however , was afterwards of use to me , for the impression continued on my mind . so that often , when I was tempted to buy something I do not need . I said to myself . “Don't give too much for the whistle ,”and I saved my money . As I grew up , came into the world，and observed the actions of men . I thought I met with many ,very many ,who “gave too much for the whistle .”
When I saw some man too eager for cout favour, wasting his time at court getherings ,giving up his rest , his liberty ,his virtue, and perhaps his friends ,for royal favour , I said to myself “This man gives too much for the whistle.”When I saw another fond of popularity , constantly taking part in political affairs ,neglecting his own business ,and ruining it by neglect , “He pays , indeed ,”said I , “too dear for his whistle .”
If I knew a miser（守财奴，吝啬鬼）who gave up every kind of comfortable living , all the pleasure of doing good to others , all the esteem of his fellow citizens and the joys of friendship , for the sake of gathering and keeping wealth —“Poor man.”said I , “you pay too dear for your whistle .”When I met a man of pleasure , who did not try to improve his mind or his fortune but merely devoted himself to having a good time ,perhaps neglecting his health ,“Mistaken man,”said I , “you are providing pain for yourself , instead of pleasure ; you are paying too dear for your whistle .”If I saw someone fond of appearance of who had fine clothes , fine houses , fine furniture , fine earrings , all above his fortune , and for which he had run into debt ,and ends his career in a prison .“Alas,”said I , “he has paid dear , very dear , for his whistle . ”In short the miseries of mankind are largely due to their putting a false value on things —to giving “too much for their whistles”.。