McGuffey's Sixth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson CXXVI · Part 12: Herculaneum, Waterloo and A Psalm of Life
132. Franklin's Entry into Philadelphia (Benjamin Franklin)
Goal: Your student can retell young Franklin's arrival in Philadelphia, with its funny details.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- A notebook and pen
- A dictionary
What's in the book
From Franklin's Autobiography: the young runaway printer arrives in Philadelphia tired, hungry and nearly penniless, with three great puffy rolls. The heading is at the top of the page.
The lesson, step by step
Words and meanings
Look over the notes and definitions printed at the end of the lesson before you start, so names and hard words don't trip up the reading.
Your student picks three unfamiliar words, guesses each meaning from the sentence, then checks a dictionary.
About the author
The book says Franklin (1706–1790) was born in Boston and was apprenticed to his brother, a printer. He moved to Philadelphia in 1723, published the Pennsylvania Gazette and Poor Richard's Almanac, and showed that lightning is electricity. He was Minister to France and helped frame the Constitution. The book calls his Autobiography the most notable of his works; this extract is from it.
Read aloud
Read it aloud together.
Listen for these lines:
Walking in the evening by the side of the river, a boat came by, which I found was going towards Philadelphia
He gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls.
Talk about it
SayHow did Franklin get to Philadelphia? How much money did he have?
SayWhy did he end up with so much bread? What did he do with it?
SayWhy do you think Franklin, when famous, told this embarrassing story about himself?
SayWho saw him walking with the rolls? Why does that matter later?
Narration
Your student retells Franklin's first morning in Philadelphia as a funny story.
Writing (optional)
Write about a time you arrived somewhere new and felt out of place.