So Benjamin separated from his old friends on the best of terms, and commenced work for Mr. Denham. Nor was it light work. He accompanied his employer from warehouse to warehouse, packing goods that he bought, and forwarding them to the ship _Berkshire_, which would sail on July 21st. It was new business for him, but he liked it all the more for its novelty; and he performed the labors with his accustomed tact and industry. Benjamin had been nineteen months in London when he sailed on the 21st of July, 1726. A few months before, he made the acquaintance of Peter Collinson, a young man of noble English birth, whose talents gave him nearly as much standing as his ancestry. Collinson heard of Benjamin and sought him out, forming a life-long friendship. Collinson accompanied Benjamin to the ship. Just before the vessel weighed anchor, he handed his walking-stick to Benjamin, saying, "Let us exchange." Benjamin exchanged, replying, "And let it be a pledge of friendship forever." "And a pledge, also, of faithful correspondence with each other," added Collinson, as they shook hands and parted. The _Berkshire_, Henry Clark, master, was eighty-two days on its voyage to Philadelphia. Benjamin landed there on the 11th day of October, 1726: and he was at home again. [3] "Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin," vol. i. p. 136. XXIX. UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE. One of the first places that Benjamin visited was the printing house of Keimer, where he worked before leaving the country. Keimer had made up his mind that Benjamin would never return to America, so that when he entered the printing office he was startled. "Why, Ben! can it be you?" he exclaimed in wonder. "I began to think that you would never be seen in Philadelphia again." "Why did you think so?" "Because you planned to be back here a long time ago; I concluded that you had forsaken us." "Not yet; I have seen no place abroad quite equal to Philadelphia. I did not return as soon as I expected." And Benjamin rehearsed to Keimer substantially his experience with Governor Keith, that he might understand why his return was delayed. "That is what you got for concealing your purpose," said Keimer. "I could have told you that Keith was wholly unreliable, and so could a good many other people. He has been turned out of office because of his rascality." "I am glad to hear that. I am a little curious to see how he will act, and hear what he will say, when I meet him." "He won't meet you if he can help it. I see him occasionally on the street, and he looks crestfallen." "He will look more so, I imagine, when he meets me. I propose to talk matters over very plainly with him." "That can do no good. The less breath you waste in that way, the better for you," replied Keimer. "But I suppose you want to go to work at your old trade? Plenty of work here, and you are just the man to do it."