Benjamin Franklin : $b Representative selections, with introduction, bibliograpy, and notesFranklin, Benjamin
General
Benjamin Franklin : $b Representative selections, with introduction, bibliograpy, and notes
Franklin, Benjamin
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
Walking again down towards the River, and looking in the Faces of
People, I met a young Quaker Man whose Countenance I lik'd, and
accosting him requested he would tell me where a Stranger could get
Lodging. We were then near the Sign of the Three Mariners. Here, says
he, is one Place that entertains Strangers, but it is not a reputable
House; if thee wilt walk with me, I'll show thee a better. He brought me
to the Crooked Billet in Water Street. Here I got a Dinner. And while I
was eating it, several sly Questions were ask'd me, as it seem'd to be
suspected from my youth and Appearance, that I might be some Runaway.
After Dinner my Sleepiness return'd: and being shown to a Bed, I lay
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 supply'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, tho' he had just then nothing for me
to do. And taking old Bradford whom he had never seen before, to be one
of the Towns People that had a Good Will for him, enter'd into a
Conversation on his present Undertaking and Prospects; 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 Interest he rely'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 surpriz'd
when I told him who the old Man was.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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