And when I say, “God bless all good women who help men do their work,” I simply repeat the words once used by Benjamin Franklin when he had Deborah in mind.

* * * * *

When Franklin was forty-two, he had accumulated a fortune of seventy-five thousand dollars.  It gave him an income of about four thousand dollars a year, which he said was all he wanted; so he sold out his business, intending to devote his entire energies to the study of science and languages.  He had lived just one-half his days; and had he then passed out, his life could have been summed up as one of the most useful that ever has been lived.  He had founded and been the life of the Junto Club—­the most sensible and beneficent club of which I ever heard.

The series of questions asked at every meeting of the Junto, so mirror the life and habit of thought of Franklin that we had better glance at a few of them: 

1.  Have you read over these queries this morning, in order to consider what you might have to offer the Junto, touching any one of them?

2.  Have you met with anything in the author you last read, remarkable, or suitable to be communicated to the Junto; particularly in history, morality, poetry, physics, travels, mechanical arts, or other parts of knowledge?

3.  Do you know of a fellow-citizen, who has lately done a worthy action, deserving praise and imitation; or who has lately committed an error, proper for us to be warned against and avoid?

4.  What unhappy effects of intemperance have you lately observed or heard; of imprudence, of passion, or of any other vice or folly?

5.  What happy effects of temperance, of prudence, of moderation, or of any other virtue?

6.  Do you think of anything at present in which the members of the Junto may be serviceable to mankind, to their country, to their friends, or to themselves?

7.  Hath any deserving stranger arrived in town since last meeting that you have heard of?  And what have you heard or observed of his character or merits?  And whether, think you, it lies in the power of the Junto to oblige him, or encourage him as he deserves?

8.  Do you know of any deserving young beginner, lately set up, whom it lies in the power of the Junto in any way to encourage?

9.  Have you lately observed any defect in the laws of your country, of which it would be proper to move the legislature for an amendment?  Or do you know of any beneficial law that is wanting?

10.  Have you lately observed any encroachment on the just liberties of the people?

11.  In what manner can the Junto, or any of its members, assist you in any of your honorable designs?

12.  Have you any weighty affair on hand in which you think the advice of the Junto may be of service?

13.  What benefits have you lately received from any man not present?

14.  Is there any difficulty in matters of opinion, of justice and injustice, which you would gladly have discussed at this time?