"And be collector, too, I suppose," added Benjamin, who had no objection to any part of the work named.
"As you please about that. Doubtless it will be convenient to have you attend to that, at times at least."
"You won't make me editor yet, I conclude," remarked Benjamin, facetiously, thinking that about all the work on the paper, except the editorship, had been assigned to him.
"Not yet, I think," responded James; "printer, news-dealer, news-carrier, and collector will be as much honor as any one of the Franklins can withstand at once"; and he had as little idea of the part Benjamin would play in the enterprise as the boy himself.
There is no doubt that Benjamin had an idea that the paper might have in its columns some of his fugitive pieces, sooner or later. He had been cultivating his talents in this direction, and never was enjoying it more than he was at the time the New England Courant was established.
"How many copies shall you publish in the first issue?" inquired
Benjamin.
"I am not quite decided about that; anywhere from two to three hundred. We will see how it goes first."
"How about articles for it? Will you have any trouble about getting articles?"
"None at all. I am to have several articles at once for the first number, from parties who can write well; and when the paper is well under way there will be a plenty of volunteer contributors. I have no fears about that."
Benjamin might have responded, "Here is one," for there is no doubt that he was already flattering himself with the idea that he would be a contributor to its columns, known or unknown. Here was the real secret of his enthusiastic interest in the enterprise.