Temple's Diary
A Tale of Benjamin Franklin's Family
In the Days Leading up to The American Revolution
May 30, 1775
Well, it's not bad, being a gentleman. I am now equipped with, among other things, a riding outfit, and this morning I went riding with my father. He is an accomplished, elegant horseman who would fit perfectly in Hyde Park, back in London. As for me, I must admit that all I can do is to sit on the animal and let him go, but Father promises to teach me all he knows. He is warming up to me, I think. After an hour I have learned to hold my back straight and my knees tight. Father thinks that in due course I'll do very well because I have the right build, his build. What a dream it would be to spend the summer this way and not hear a thing about current events!
