On this account the eyes of many people were fixed upon the boy.

Some of his ancestors had won great renown in the old wars of England and France; but it was probably expected that Ben would become a preacher, and would convert multitudes to the peaceful doctrines of the Quakers.

Friend West and his wife were thought to be very fortunate in having such a son.
Little Ben lived to the ripe age of six years without doing anything that was worthy to be told in history.

But one summer afternoon, in his seventh year, his mother put a fan into his hand and bade him keep the flies away from the face of a little babe who lay fast asleep in the cradle.

She then left the room.
The boy waved the fan to and fro and drove away the buzzing flies whenever they had the impertinence to come near the baby's face.