y great-great-grandfather read it to his family, he turned up the joint-stool upon his knees, turning over the leaves then
             under the tapes. Josiah, my father, married young, and carried his wife with three children into New England, about 1682. By the same wife he had four children more born there, and by a second wife ten more, in all seventeen; of which I remember thirteen sitting at one time at his table, who all grew up to be men and women, and married; I was the youngest son, and the youngest child but two, and was born in Boston, New England. It was written in 1675, in the home-spun verse of that time and people, and addressed to those then concerned in the government there. My uncle Benjamin, too, approved of it, and proposed to give me all his short-hand volumes of sermons, I suppose as a stock to set up with, if I would learn his character. At ten years old I was taken home to assist my father in his business, which was that of a tallow-chandler and sope-boiler; a business he
             was not bred to, but had assumed on his arrival in New England, and on finding his dying trade would not maintain his family, being in little request. Page 12
             did in an evening after the business of the day was over, it was extremely agreeable to hear. In the latter, indeed, he was never employed, the numerous family he had to educate and the straitness of his circumstances keeping him close to his trade; but I remember well his being frequently visited by leading people, who consulted him for his opinion in affairs of the town or of the church he belonged to, and showed a good deal of respect for his judgment and advice: he was also much consulted by private persons about their affairs when any difficulty occurred, and frequently chosen an arbitrator between contending parties.
             A.F. born 1667, died 1752, -- -- -95.
             To return: I continued thus employed in my father's business for two years, that is, till I was twelve years old; and my brother...