Night after night Nat and Charlie met in the aforesaid attic, to read, study mathematics, and discuss the subjects of the volumes which they read. They made very commendable progress in mathematics, and probably kept in advance of their companions who were in school. Among the characters who were discussed by them, none received more attention than Dr. Franklin and Patrick Henry.
"Which of these characters do you like best?" inquired Charlie one evening.
"I suppose that Dr. Franklin would be considered the best model; but such eloquence as that of Patrick Henry must have been grand. Dr. Franklin was not much of a speaker, though what he said was sound and good."
"And Patrick Henry was a lazy fellow when he was young," added Charlie. "You remember that his father set him up in business two or three times, and he failed because he was too shiftless to attend to it."
"Very true; and he suffered all through life on account of not having formed habits of industry, economy and application. It shows what a splendid man he might have made, if he had reduced Franklin's rules to practice."
"Let us read over those rules of Franklin again," said Charlie. "You copied them, I believe."
Nat took up a paper, on which the rules were penned in a handsome hand, and proceeded to the following:
1. "Temperance.—Eat not to dulness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence.—Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order.—Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.