but to her miserable abandonment and lonely death.
Perhaps we cannot call Franklin an outright rebel as described in the years covered by his autobiography, but there are many instances in which he certainly felt free to express his independent will. For example, he writes that he had taken a job with his father, but
I dislik'd the Trade and had a strong inclination for the sea; but my Father declar'd against it; however, living near the water, i was much in and about it, learned early to swim well, and to manage Boats, and when in a boat or Canoe with other Boys, and sometimes led them into Scrapes (Franklin 492).
We see there not exactly a rebel, not a Revolutionary in the making, but we do see a young man who pushes boundaries, gets away with it, expresses his natural leadership, and advances his ambition, despite parental admonition against it.
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