The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Illustrated by Tales, Sketches, and AnecdotesGoodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
History
The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Illustrated by Tales, Sketches, and Anecdotes
Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790; Statesmen -- United States -- Biography
8. As he walked along the street, gazing at the new things he saw, and
wondering what would be the end of his trouble, he met a boy with some
bread. Inquiring where he had bought it, Franklin went immediately to
the place where he was directed, and asked for three-pence worth of
bread. He received three large puffy rolls, and, having no room in his
pockets, walked off, with a roll under each arm, and eating the third.
[Illustration: Franklin walking in the streets of Philadelphia.]
9. In this manner he walked up Market street, as far as Fourth street,
passing by the house of Mr. Read, whose daughter he afterwards
married. This young lady was standing at the door as he went by, and
probably thought he made rather an awkward appearance. After walking
about the streets some time, eating his roll, he found himself again
in the neighborhood of the wharf where he had landed. He went on board
of the boat, and gave his two remaining rolls to a woman and child
that had been his fellow-passengers down the river.
10. He again walked up the street, which was, by that time, filled
with a large number of neat, well-dressed people, who were all walking
the same way. He joined them, and was led into the great meeting house
of the Quakers, near the market. Sitting down among them, he looked
round awhile, and, as nothing was said, fell fast asleep from
drowsiness. His nap continued till the meeting broke up, when some one
was kind enough to awake him.
11. He then walked down towards the river, and meeting a young Quaker,
whose countenance pleased him, he asked where a stranger could get
lodgings. They were then near a house with the sign of the Three
Mariners. "Here," said the Quaker, "is a house where they receive
strangers, but it is not a reputable one; if thou wilt walk with me,
I'll show thee a better." He conducted Franklin to the Crooked Billet,
in Water street.
12. There he dined, and during the dinner several questions were put
to him, by persons who supposed him to be a runaway. On the next
morning, he dressed himself as neatly as he could, and went to see
Andrew Bradford, the printer. Here he found the old gentleman, whom he
had met in New York, and who, travelling on horseback, had got to
Philadelphia before him.
13. Mr. Bradford received him very kindly, but, as he was not at that
time in want of a hand, could only recommend him to a printer, who had
lately set up in town, by the name of Keimer. This man had then
nothing for him to do, but promised him employment soon. Meanwhile, he
was invited to lodge with Mr. Bradford, and to assist when there was
any extra work in the printing office.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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