THE DOGOOD PAPERS

FRANKLIN has told in his Autobiography how he wrote an anonymous paper when he was but sixteen years of age and put it in at night under the door of his brother's printing house. The following morning it was commented on in his hearing, and he had "the exquisite pleasure" of finding that it met with the approbation of the contributors to Couranto, as the New England Courant was then called. In all probability this article was the first of the "Dogood Papers," and March, 1722 is therefore the time of Franklin's first adventure in literature. Editorial encouragement was promptly given to the unknown author. In the same issue of the newspaper that contained his communication appeared the notice, "As the Favour of Mrs. Dogood's Correspondence is acknowledged by the Publisher of this Paper, lest any of her Letters should miscarry, he desires they may be deliver'd at his Printing-House, or at the Blue Ball in Union street, and no questions shall be ask'd of the Bearer." Thus encouraged Franklin continued to write the letters of Mrs. Silence Dogood, at fortnightly intervals, until the series ended with the fourteenth paper, published October 8, 1722. They were first accredited to Franklin by J. T. Buckingham in 1850 ("Specimens of Newspaper Literature," I, 62), and further ascribed to him by James Parton in his

"Life and Times of Franklin" (1864, Vol. I, p. 84). In the first sketch, or draft scheme, of his Autobiography Franklin claims "Mrs. Dogood's letters" as his own. They have never appeared in any collection of his writings. They are now reprinted from the file of the New England Courant in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

The character of the young Franklin is interestingly revealed in these papers; and it will be seen that his sedulous attention to the language of the Spectator had already formed his literary style, and stamped it with those qualities that have given him a high and enduring place among American writers.

3. THE DOGOOD PAPERS

The

New-England Courant.

No 35

From Monday March 26. to Monday April 2. 1722

To the Author of the New-England Courant. SIR,

It may not be improper in the first Place to inform your Readers, that I intend once a Fortnight to present them, by the Help of this Paper, with a fhort Epistle, which I prefume will add fomewhat to their Entertainment.

And fince it is obferved, that the Generality of People, now a days, are unwilling either to commend or dispraise what they read, until they are in fome measure informed who or what the Author of it is, whether he be poor or rich, old or young, a Scollar or a Leather Apron Man, &c. and

give their Opinion of the Performance, according to the Knowledge which they have of the Author's Circumstances, it may not be amifs to begin with a short Account of my past Life and present Condition, that the Reader may not be at a Lofs to judge whether or no my Lucubrations are worth his reading.

At the time of my Birth, my Parents were on Ship-board in their Way from London to N. England. My Entrance into this troublesome World was attended with the Death of my Father, a Misfortune, which tho' I was not then capable of knowing, I fhall never be able to forget; for as he, poor Man, stood upon the Deck rejoycing at my Birth, a merciless Wave entred the Ship, and in one Moment carry'd him beyond Reprieve. Thus was the first Day which I saw, the last that was feen by my Father; and thus was my difconfolate Mother at once made both a Parent and a Widow. When we arrived at Boston (which was not long after) I

was put to Nurfe in a Country Place, at a fmall Distance e de ruk

from the Town, where I went to School, and past my Infancy

and Childhood in Vanity and Idlenefs, until I was bound done

out Apprentice, that I might no longer be a Charge to my Indigent Mother, who was put to hard Shifts for a Living.

My Master was a Country Minister, a pious good-natur'd young Man, & a Batchelor: He labour'd with all his Might to inftil vertuous and godly Principles into my tender Soul, well knowing that it was the most suitable Time to make deep and lafting Impreffions on the Mind, while it was yet untainted with Vice, free and unbiass'd. He endeavour'd that I might be instructed in all that Knowledge and Learning which is neceffary for our Sex, and deny'd me no Accomplishment that could poffibly be attained in a

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Country Place, fuch as all Sorts of Needle-Work, Writing, Arithmetick, &c. and obferving that I took a more than ordinary Delight in reading ingenious Books, he gave me the free Ufe of his Library, which tho' it was but small, yet it \was was well chofe,) to inform the Understanding rightly and enable the Mind to frame great and noble Ideas.

Before I had liv'd quite two Years with this Reverend Gentleman, my indulgent Mother departed this Life, leaving me as it were by my felf, having no Relation on Earth within my Knowledge.

I will not abuse your Patience with a tedious Recital of all the frivolous Accidents of my Life, that happened from this Time until I arrived to Years of Discretion, only inform you that I liv'd a chearful Country Life, spending my leisure Time either in fome innocent Diversion with the neighbouring Females, or in fome fhady Retirement, with the best of Company, Books. Thus I paft away the Time with a Mixture of Profit and Pleasure, having no Affliction but what was imaginary, and created in my own Fancy; as nothing is more common with us Women, than to be grieving for nothing, when we have nothing else to grieve for.

As I would not engrofs too much of your Paper at once, I will defer the Remainder of my Story until my next Letter; in the mean time defiring your Readers to exercise their Patience, and bear with my Humours now and then, because I fhall trouble them but feldom. I am not infensible of the Impossibility of pleasing all, but I would not willingly displease any; and for those who will take Offence where none is intended, they are beneath the Notice of

Your Humble Servant,

SILINC DOGOOD

As the Favour of Mrs. Dogood's Correspondence is acknowledged by the Publisher of this Paper, left any of her Letters fhould mifcarry, he defires they may for the future be deliver'd at his Printing-House, or at the Blue Ball in UnionStreet, and no Questions shall be ask'd of the Bearer.

Histories of Lives are feldom entertaining, unless they contain fomething either admirable or exemplar: And fince there is little or nothing of this Nature in my own Adventures, I will not tire your Readers with tedious Particulars of no Confequence, but will briefly, and in as few Words as possible relate, the most material Occurrences of my Life, and according to my Promise, confine all to this Letter.

MY Reverend Mafter who had hitherto remained a Batchelor, (after much Meditation on the Eighteenth verse of the second Chapter of Genesis,) took up a Resolution to marry; and having made (feveral unsuccessful fruitlefs Attempts on the more topping Sort of our Sex, and being tir'd with making troublesome Journeys and Visits to no Purpose, he began unexpectedly to caft a loving Eye upon Me, whom he had brought up cleverly to his Hand.

THERE is certainly fcarce any Part of a Man's Life in which he appears more filly and ridiculous, than when he makes his first Onfet in Courtship. The aukward Manner