the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第13章
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sundry alterations。 Keith was no longer governor； being superseded by
Major Gordon。 I met him walking the streets as a common citizen。 He
seem'd a little asham'd at seeing me； but pass'd without saying anything。 I
should have been as much asham'd at seeing Miss Read； had not her
friends； despairing with reason of my return after the receipt of my letter；
persuaded her to marry another； one Rogers； a potter； which was done in
my absence。 With him； however； she was never happy； and soon parted
from him； refusing to cohabit with him or bear his name； it being now said
that he bad another wife。 He was a worthless fellow； tho' an excellent
workman； which was the temptation to her friends。 He got into debt； ran
away in 1727 or 1728； went to the West Indies； and died there。 Keimer had
got a better house； a shop well supply'd with stationery； plenty of new
types； a number of hands； tho' none good； and seem'd to have a great deal
of business。
Mr。 Denham took a store in Water…street； where we open'd our goods； I
attended the business diligently； studied accounts； and grew； in a little time；
expert at selling。 We lodg'd and； boarded together； he counsell'd me as a
father； having a sincere regard for me。 I respected and lov'd him； and we
might have gone on together very happy； but； in the beginning of February；
1726…7； when I had just pass'd my twenty…first year； we both were taken ill。
My distemper was a pleurisy； which very nearly carried me off。 I suffered
a good deal； gave up the point in my own mind； and was rather
disappointed when I found myself recovering； regretting； in some degree；
that I must now； some time or other； have all that disagreeable work to do
over again。 I forget what his distemper was； it held him a long time； and at
length carried him off。 He left me a small legacy in a nuncupative will； as
a token of his kindness for me； and he left me once more to the wide world；
for the store was taken into the care of his executors； and my employment
under him ended。
My brother…in…law； Holmes； being now at Philadelphia； advised my
return to my business； and Keimer tempted me； with an offer of large
wages by the year； to come and take the management of his printing…house；
that he might better attend his stationer's shop。 I had heard a bad character
of him in London from his wife and her friends； and was not fond of
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having any more to do with him。 I tri'd for farther employment as a
merchant's clerk； but； not readily meeting with any； I clos'd again with
Keimer。 I found in his house these hands： Hugh Meredith； a Welsh
Pensilvanian； thirty years of age； bred to country work； honest； sensible；
had a great deal of solid observation； was something of a reader； but given
to drink。 Stephen Potts； a young countryman of full age； bred to the same；
of uncommon natural parts； and great wit and humor； but a little idle。
These he had agreed with at extream low wages per week； to be rais'd a
shilling every three months； as they would deserve by improving in their
business； and the expectation of these high wages； to come on hereafter；
was what he had drawn them in with。 Meredith was to work at press； Potts
at book…binding； which he； by agreement； was to teach them； though he
knew neither one nor t'other。 John ； a wild Irishman； brought up to no
business； whose service； for four years； Keimer had purchased from the
captain of a ship； he； too； was to be made a pressman。 George Webb； an
Oxford scholar； whose time for four years he had likewise bought；
intending him for a compositor； of whom more presently； and David Harry；
a country boy； whom he had taken apprentice。
I soon perceiv'd that the intention of engaging me at wages so much
higher than he had been us'd to give； was； to have these raw； cheap hands
form'd thro' me； and； as soon as I had instructed them； then they being all
articled to him； he should be able to do without me。 I went on； however；
very cheerfully； put his printing…house in order； which had been in great
confusion； and brought his hands by degrees to mind their business and to
do it better。
It was an odd thing to find an Oxford scholar in the situation of a
bought servant。 He was not more than eighteen years of age； and gave me
this account of himself； that he was born in Gloucester； educated at a
grammar…school there； had been distinguish'd among the scholars for some
apparent superiority in performing his part； when they exhibited plays；
belong'd to the Witty Club there； and had written some pieces in prose and
verse； which were printed in the Gloucester newspapers； thence he was
sent to Oxford； where he continued about a year； but not well satisfi'd；
wishing of all things to see London； and become a player。 At length；
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receiving his quarterly allowance of fifteen guineas； instead of discharging
his debts he walk'd out of town； hid his gown in a furze bush； and footed it
to London； where； having no friend to advise him； he fell into bad
company； soon spent his guineas； found no means of being introduc'd
among the players； grew necessitous； pawn'd his cloaths； and wanted
bread。 Walking the street very hungry； and not knowing what to do with
himself； a crimp's bill was put into his hand； offering immediate
entertainment and encouragement to such as would bind themselves to
serve in America。
He went directly； sign'd the indentures； was put into the ship； and came
over； never writing a line to acquaint his friends what was become of him。
He was lively； witty； good…natur'd； and a pleasant companion； but idle；
thoughtless； and imprudent to the last degree。
John； the Irishman； soon ran away； with the rest I began to live very
agreeably； for they all respected me the more； as they found Keimer
incapable of instructing them； and that from me they learned something
daily。 We never worked on Saturday； that being Keimer's Sabbath； so I had
two days for reading。 My acquaintance with ingenious people in the town
increased。 Keimer himself treated me with great civility and apparent
regard； and nothing now made me uneasy but my debt to Vernon； which I
was yet unable to pay； being hitherto but a poor oeconomist。 He； however；
kindly made no demand of it。
Our printing…house often wanted sorts； and there was no letter…founder
in America； I had seen types cast at James's in London； but without much
attention to the manner； however； I now contrived a mould； made use of
the letters we had as puncheons； struck the matrices in lead； And thus
supply'd in a pretty tolerable way all deficiencies。 I also engrav'd several
things on occasion； I made the ink； I was warehouseman； and everything；
and； in short； quite a factotum。
But； however serviceable I might be； I found that my services became
every day of less importance； as the other hands improv'd in the business；
and； when Keimer paid my second quarter's wages； he let me know that he
felt them too heavy； and thought I should make an abatement。 He grew by
degrees less civil； put on more of the master； frequently found fault； was
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captious； and seem'd ready for an outbreaking。 I went on； nevertheless；
with a good deal of patience； thinking that his encumber'd circumstances
were partly the cause。 At length a trifle snapt our connections； for； a great
noise happening near the court…house； I put my head out of the window to
see what was the matter。 Keimer； being in the street； look'd up and saw me；
call'd out to me in a loud voice and angry tone to mind my business；
adding some reproachful words； that nettled me the more for their
publicity； all the neighbors who were looking out on the same occasion
being witnesses how I was treated。 He came up immediately into the
printing…house； continu'd the quarrel； high words pass'd on both sides； he
gave me the quarter's warning we had stipulated； expressing a wish that he
had not been oblig'd to so long a warning。 I told him his wish was
unnecessary； for I would leave him that instant； and so； taking my hat；
walk'd out of doors； desiring Meredith； whom I saw below； to take care of
some things I left； and bring them to my lodgings。
Meredith came accordingly in the evening； when we talked my affair
over。 He had conceiv'd a great regard for me； and was very unwilling that I
should leave the house while he remain'd in it。 He dissuaded me from
returning to my native country； which I began to think of； he reminded me
that Keimer was in debt for all he possess'd； that his creditors began to be
uneasy； that he kept his shop miserably； sold often without profit for ready
money； and often trusted without keeping accounts； that he must therefore
fall； which would make a vacancy I might profit of。 I objected my want of
money。 He then let me know that his father had a high opinion of me； and；
from some discourse that had pass'd between them； he was sure would
advance money to set us up； if I would enter into partnership with him。
〃My time；〃 says he； 〃will be out with Keimer in the spring； by that time
we may have our press and types in from London。 I am sensible I am no
workman； if you like it； your skill in the business shall be set against the
stock I furnish； and we will share the profits equally。〃
The proposal was agreeable； and I consented； his father was in town
and approv'd of it； the more as he saw I had great
