the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第7章
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
down without undressing； and slept till six in the evening； was call'd to
supper； went to bed again very early； and slept soundly till next morning。
Then I made myself as tidy as I could； and went to Andrew Bradford the
printer's。 I found in the shop the old man his father； whom I had seen at
New York； and who； travelling on horseback； had got to Philadelphia
before me。 He introduc'd me to his son； who receiv'd me civilly； gave me a
breakfast； but told me he did not at present want a hand； being lately
suppli'd with one； but there was another printer in town； lately set up； one
Keimer； who； perhaps； might employ me； if not； I should be welcome to
lodge at his house； and he would give me a little work to do now and then
till fuller business should offer。
The old gentleman said he would go with me to the new printer； and
when we found him； 〃Neighbor；〃 says Bradford； 〃I have brought to see
you a young man of your business； perhaps you may want such a one。〃 He
ask'd me a few questions； put a composing stick in my hand to see how I
work'd； and then said he would employ me soon； though he had just then
nothing for me to do； and； taking old Bradford； whom he had never seen
before； to be one of the town's people that had a good will for him； enter'd
into a conversation on his present undertaking and projects； while
Bradford； not discovering that he was the other printer's father； on
Keimer's saying he expected soon to get the greatest part of the business
into his own hands； drew him on by artful questions； and starting little
doubts； to explain all his views； what interests he reli'd on； and in what
manner he intended to proceed。 I； who stood by and heard all； saw
immediately that one of them was a crafty old sophister； and the other a
mere novice。 Bradford left me with Keimer； who was greatly surpris'd
when I told him who the old man was。
Keimer's printing…house； I found； consisted of an old shatter'd press；
and one small； worn…out font of English which he was then using himself；
composing an Elegy on Aquila Rose； before mentioned； an ingenious
young man； of excellent character； much respected in the town； clerk of
the Assembly； and a pretty poet。 Keimer made verses too； but very
indifferently。 He could not be said to write them； for his manner was to
compose them in the types directly out of his head。 So there being no copy；
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but one pair of cases； and the Elegy likely to require all the letter； no one
could help him。 I endeavor'd to put his press （which he had not yet us'd；
and of which he understood nothing） into order fit to be work'd with； and；
promising to come and print off his Elegy as soon as he should have got it
ready； I return'd to Bradford's； who gave me a little job to do for the
present； and there I lodged and dieted； A few days after； Keimer sent for
me to print off the Elegy。 And now he had got another pair of cases； and a
pamphlet to reprint； on which he set me to work。
These two printers I found poorly qualified for their business。
Bradford had not been bred to it； and was very illiterate； and Keimer； tho'
something of a scholar； was a mere compositor； knowing nothing of
presswork。 He had been one of the French prophets； and could act their
enthusiastic agitations。 At this time he did not profess any particular
religion； but something of all on occasion； was very ignorant of the world；
and had； as I afterward found； a good deal of the knave in his composition。
He did not like my lodging at Bradford's while I work'd with him。 He had
a house； indeed； but without furniture； so he could not lodge me； but he
got me a lodging at Mr。 Read's； before mentioned； who was the owner of
his house； and； my chest and clothes being come by this time； I made
rather a more respectable appearance in the eyes of Miss Read than I had
done when she first happen'd to see me eating my roll in the street。
I began now to have some acquaintance among the young people of
the town； that were lovers of reading； with whom I spent my evenings
very pleasantly； and gaining money by my industry and frugality； I lived
very agreeably； forgetting Boston as much as I could； and not desiring that
any there should know where I resided； except my friend Collins； who was
in my secret； and kept it when I wrote to him。 At length； an incident
happened that sent me back again much sooner than I had intended。 I had
a brother…in…law； Robert Holmes； master of a sloop that traded between
Boston and Delaware。 He being at Newcastle； forty miles below
Philadelphia； heard there of me； and wrote me a letter mentioning the
concern of my friends in Boston at my abrupt departure； assuring me of
their good will to me； and that every thing would be accommodated to my
mind if I would return； to which he exhorted me very earnestly。 I wrote an
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
answer to his letter； thank'd him for his advice； but stated my reasons for
quitting Boston fully and in such a light as to convince him I was not so
wrong as he had apprehended。
Sir William Keith； governor of the province； was then at Newcastle；
and Captain Holmes； happening to be in company with him when my
letter came to hand； spoke to him of me； and show'd him the letter。 The
governor read it； and seem'd surpris'd when he was told my age。 He said I
appear'd a young man of promising parts； and therefore should be
encouraged； the printers at Philadelphia were wretched ones； and； if I
would set up there； he made no doubt I should succeed； for his part； he
would procure me the public business； and do me every other service in
his power。 This my brother…in…law afterwards told me in Boston； but I
knew as yet nothing of it； when； one day； Keimer and I being at work
together near the window； we saw the governor and another gentleman
（which proved to be Colonel French； of Newcastle）； finely dress'd； come
directly across the street to our house； and heard them at the door。
Keimer ran down immediately； thinking it a visit to him； but the
governor inquir'd for me； came up； and with a condescension of politeness
I had been quite unus'd to； made me many compliments； desired to be
acquainted with me； blam'd me kindly for not having made myself known
to him when I first came to the place； and would have me away with him
to the tavern； where he was going with Colonel French to taste； as he said；
some excellent Madeira。 I was not a little surprised； and Keimer star'd like
a pig poison'd。 I went； however； with the governor and Colonel French to a
tavern； at the corner of Third…street； and over the Madeira he propos'd my
setting up my business； laid before me the probabilities of success； and
both he and Colonel French assur'd me I should have their interest and
influence in procuring the public business of both governments。 On my
doubting whether my father would assist me in it； Sir William said he
would give me a letter to him； in which he would state the advantages； and
he did not doubt of prevailing with him。 So it was concluded I should
return to Boston in the first vessel； with the governor's letter
recommending me to my father。 In the mean time the intention was to be
kept a secret； and I went on working with Keimer as usual； the governor
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sending for me now and then to dine with him； a very great honor I
thought it； and conversing with me in the most affable； familiar； and
friendly manner imaginable。
About the end of April； 1724； a little vessel offer'd for Boston。 I took
leave of Keimer as going to see my friends。 The governor gave me an
ample letter； saying many flattering things of me to my father； and
strongly recommending the project of my setting up at Philadelphia as a
thing that must make my fortune。 We struck on a shoal in going down the
bay； and sprung a leak； we had a blustering time at sea； and were oblig'd to
pump almost continually； at which I took my turn。 We arriv'd safe；
however； at Boston in about a fortnight。 I had been absent seven months；
and my friends had heard nothing of me； for my br。 Holmes was not yet
return'd； and had not written about me。 My unexpected appearance
surpriz'd the family； all were； however； very glad to see me； and made me
welcome； except my brother。 I went to see him at his printing…house。 I was
better dress'd than ever while in his service； having a genteel new suit
from head to foot； a watch； and my pockets lin'd with near five pounds
sterling in silver。 He receiv'd me not very frankly； look'd me all over； and
turn'd to his work again。
The journeymen were inquisitive where I had been； what sort of a
country it was； and how I lik'd it。 I prais'd it much； the happy life I led in it；
expressing strongly my intention of returning to it； and； one of them
asking what kind of money we had there； I produc'd a handful of silver；
and spread it before them； which was a kind of raree…show they had not
been us'd to； paper being the money of Boston。 Then I took an opportunity
of letting them see my watch； and； lastly （my brother still grum and sullen）；
I gave them a piece of eight to drink； and took my leave。 This visit of mine
offended him extreamly； for； when my mother some time after spoke to
him of a reco
