WHEN Benjamin Franklin was seven years old, he had not been to school for a single day, yet to the surprise of every one who knew him, he was a good reader, and could spell correctly. No one quite understood how he had learned; when asked about it he said that he could hardly remember a time when he could not read.
A few children, but I think there are only a few, seem able to learn almost as much without the help of a teacher as others who have all the advantages of a school. But on the morning of a public holiday something on the lines of what we know as a Bank Holiday, the heart of the seven-year-old boy was overflowing with happiness, he was to have a whole holiday, and had for the first time in his life a little pocket money to spend just as he pleased.
“See that you spend your money wisely, Ben, and keep out of mischief," said his mother as she gave him a few coppers. To his great delight, his father added a few more to his spending money, saying as he did so, "Don't waste your money, Ben; see that you make a good use of it." A few more parting words and the little fellow was off, his mind filled with bright visions of all the pleasures the day was to bring him.
There were no toys in the Franklin family; day after day there were so many real needs to be provided for, that there was no money to spare for playthings. Benjamin had seen toys in shop windows, and had perhaps longed for a wooden horse, or a toy engine, but had never possessed either.
He had not gone very far before he saw a boy blowing a whistle he had just bought. Ben had no idea of the price of a whistle, but then and there he made up his mind that if he had money enough to purchase such a toy, he must and would have one. Heedless of all he might have seen on his way, he started running and never stopped till he reached the toyshop. There were not many toys, though a number of other things were offered for sale, but the boy saw nothing, cared for nothing, but a whistle.
Without asking the price, he said to the shopkeeper, "Have you any whistles?”
“Yes, plenty; do you want one?"
"Yes, if I have money enough to pay for it.”
“How much have you?”
Ben emptied his pockets on the counter, where the salesman placed a row of whistles, saying, "Take your pick.”
Ben tried them all, and chose the one from which he could get the most noise. The storekeeper swept all Ben's coppers into his till, and the boy left the shop, blowing his whistle, and still well pleased with his purchase.
Ben hastened homewards, thinking that his mother would be as much pleased as himself, but her first words were not encouraging; she said, "Why, Ben, where did you get that noisy thing? You must not blow it in the house, my head won't stand it.”
Attracted by the sound of the new toy the other members of the family gathered round him, and an elder brother asked, "How much did you give for the whistle?”
“All the money I had, and the shopkeeper took it.”
“Did you ask the price?”
“No.”
“Why, you have paid four times as much as it is worth; you should have asked the price, then you would have had enough left to buy candy, or apples for us all. You have paid too dear for your whistle. You will never make a tradesman if you spend money like that.”
Poor Ben saw how foolish he had been, and burst into tears. For a little while his sobs almost choked him, then his mother came to comfort him, saying kindly, "Don't break your heart over it, Bennie. You have been a foolish boy, but you have learned a lesson and will do better next time. It is not kind of your brother to tease you as he has done.”
Mr. Franklin joined the group saying, "Now, Ben, dry your tears and listen to me. Will it surprise you to hear that more than once I have paid too dear for a whistle, and I have known boys and girls, and grown-up men and women, too, who are doing just the same thing. I once knew an old man who was very rich, but very unhappy. He was a miser. All through a long life he had set his heart on getting and saving money. He would not allow himself common comforts, and never tasted the pleasure of helping others or doing good with his money. He had not one true friend; he lived unloved, and died without any hope for eternity. He paid too dear for his whistle. Do you understand me, Ben? You will not, I think, forget the lesson you have had to-day.”
“No, father, I will not forget," replied Benjamin, and the lesson of that day was of use to him all through his life.
As I write I am thinking of some very solemn words spoken by the Lord Jesus Himself, "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Do not miss the best things, dear boys and girls. Do not put off eternal things for a little short-lived pleasure, or you will find that you have paid sadly too dear for your whistle.