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 13—17372-3 GP 
 
Copyright, 1921, 
 Brad Stephens & Co., Boston 
 
 m 1 * 5322 
 
THE WHISTLE 
 
 By 
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 
 
 £xtraB from a Jitter Written by 
 
 Franklin to 'Madame ^rillon 
 
 November y IJjg 
 
 Published by 
 
 BRAD STEPHENS G? COMPANY 
 
 J42 BERKELEY STREET, 
 BOSTON 
 
From the Portrait by Duplessis in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts 
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 
 
 '.'4." ''"'.'J!'.,';...* ,>njvjm\'i' 
 
THE WHISTLE 
 
 WHEN I was a child of seven 
 years old, my friends, on a 
 holiday, filled my pocket with cop- 
 pers. I went directly to a shop where 
 they sold toys for children; and, being 
 charmed with the sound of a whistle^ 
 that I met by the way in the hands 
 of another boy, I voluntarily offered 
 and gave all my money for one. I 
 then came home, and went whistling 
 all over the house, much pleased with 
 my whistle^ but disturbing all the 
 family. My brothers, and sisters, and 
 cousins, understanding the bargain I 
 had made, told me I had given four 
 
times as much for it as it was worth; 
 put me in mind 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, and the reflection gave me 
 more chagrin than the whistle gave 
 me pleasure. 
 
 This, however, was afterwards of use 
 to me, the impression continuing on 
 my mind; so that often, when I was 
 tempted to buy some unnecessary 
 thing, I said to myself, Dont give 
 too much for the whistle y 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 one too ambitious of 
 court favor, sacrificing his time in 
 attendance on levees, his repose, his 
 liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his 
 friends, to attain it, I have said to 
 myself. This man gives too much for 
 his whistle. 
 
 When I saw another fond of popu- 
 larity, constantly employing himself 
 in political bustles, neglecting his own 
 affairs, and ruining them by that ne- 
 glect. He pays ^ indeed^ said I, too much 
 for his whistle. 
 
 If I knew a miser, 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 benevolent friendship, for 
 the sake of accumulating wealth. 
 Poor man^ said \^ you pay too much 
 for your whistle. 
 
 When I met with a man of pleasure, 
 sacrificing every laudable improve- 
 ment of the mind, or of his fortune, 
 to mere corporeal sensations, and 
 ruining his health in their pursuit. 
 Mistaken man^ said \^you are provid- 
 ing pain for yourself y instead of pleas- 
 ure; you give too much for your whistle. 
 
 If I see one fond of appearance, or 
 fine clothes, fine houses, fine furni- 
 ture, fine equipages, all above his 
 
My brothers, sisters and cousins laughed at me so much for my 
 folly that I cried with vexation. 
 
fortune, for which he contracts debts, 
 and ends his career in a prison, Alas! 
 say I, he has paid dear^ very dear ^ for 
 his whistle. 
 
 When I see a beautiful, sweet-tem- 
 pered girl married to an ill-natured 
 brute of a husband. What a pity^ say 
 I, that she should pay so much for a 
 whistle I 
 
 In short, I conceive that great part 
 of the miseries of mankind are 
 brought upon them by the false 
 estimates they have made of the 
 value of things, and by their giving 
 too much for their whistles. 
 
THIS Franklin Handicraft Book is number one in 
 a series of ten now in preparation. You can pur- 
 chase either a finished book, or the materials only 
 and bind and hand color your own Franklin Book. A 
 special label to go on the inside front cover is supplied 
 with each printed signature^ so that those who make 
 their own books can attach their name to each copy.