The foreword, signed by the book’s author, explains that the following manuscript was found beneath a hearthstone in an old Philadelphia house. Workers found a small room with tiny pieces of furniture from the Colonial Period. This handwritten text, the size of a postage stamp, was located within the desk. Scientists confirmed that the paper and ink are from the colonial era and that the writing belongs to a mouse. Lawson is aware that this account differs from other accounts of Franklin’s life, but he asserts that Ben’s intimate friend must be trustworthy.

Amos claims that, since Franklin’s death, many people have written inaccurate accounts of his life, so Amos feels compelled to tell the true story. Amos takes credit for Ben’s breadth of knowledge, his decision-making skills, and his apparent insightfulness. He wishes to see “justice,” promising to tell the truth so readers can judge for themselves how significant his role in Franklin’s success was.

Amos is the oldest of 26 children born to a pair of church mice in Philadelphia. The winter of 1745 is so difficult that the family takes to eating prayer books and sermons. Amos leaves and finds a clean but cold home.