_His Journey. His Dinner with the old Gingerbread Woman. Arrives in
Philadelphia. Anecdote of the Rolls. Attends the Meeting House of the
Quakers. Suspected of being a Runaway. Employed by Keimer. Noticed by
Governor Keith. Visit to Boston. Return._
1. On approaching the island, the crew found themselves in a place
where there could be no landing, as it was a stony beach, and a
violent surf was rolling. They cast anchor, and remained in that
situation through the night. As the spray dashed over the boat, they
were all, in a very short time, as wet as the unfortunate Dutchman.
The wind went down on the next morning, and they were able to reach
Amboy before night; having been thirty hours on the water, without
victuals, or any drink but a bottle of dirty rum.
2. In the evening, Franklin found himself feverish, and went to bed.
As he drank plentifully of cold water, his fever left him, and in the
morning he proceeded on his journey. After crossing the ferry, he
travelled on foot, notwithstanding a violent rain, till noon. Being
now thoroughly soaked and tired, he stopped at a poor inn, where he
spent the remainder of the day, and all night.
3. He now began to wish that he had never left home. His prospect of
procuring employment, even when he should arrive at Philadelphia, was
uncertain. He thought of the distress his sudden disappearance must
have occasioned to his parents. Besides all this, he made such a sorry
figure that he was suspected of being a runaway servant, and in danger
of being taken up on that suspicion.
4. On the next day, however, he continued his journey, and arrived
that night at an inn, within eight or ten miles of Burlington. The
next morning he reached Burlington, where he expected to find boats to
sail immediately for Philadelphia. It was Saturday, and he had the
mortification to find that the regular boats had just gone, and that
no others were expected to sail before Tuesday.
5. Franklin returned to the shop of an old woman, of whom he had
bought some gingerbread to eat on his passage, and asked her where he
had better go to find lodgings. She proposed to lodge him in her own
house, till a passage, by some other boat, offered itself. He accepted
the invitation, and dined with the old woman that day on ox-cheek. All
that she would take in return was a pot of ale.
6. Franklin had supposed himself fixed till the next Tuesday, but as
he was walking, in the evening, by the side of the river, a boat
passed by, with several people, going to Philadelphia. They took him
in, and proceeded on their voyage. The weather was very calm, without
a breath of wind stirring. They were obliged to row all the way.
Reaching Philadelphia about eight or nine o'clock on Sunday morning,
they landed at Market street wharf.
7. Our young traveller had sent his best clothes by another conveyance
from New York, and he was in his old working dress. His pockets were
stuffed out with shirts and stockings, and he knew not where to look
for lodgings. He was tired with walking, rowing, and want of sleep,
and was, besides, very hungry. His whole stock of cash was a single
silver dollar and about a shilling in copper coin. The copper he gave
to the boatmen for his passage.
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.
14. Franklin soon found that neither of the printers knew any thing
about their business. Keimer was, before long, able to give him
constant employment. He did not like, however, that any one should
live with his rival, Bradford, while he worked for him. Lodgings were,
therefore, procured for Franklin, with Mr. Read, whose house he had
passed on his first arrival, while eating his roll.
15. He had now made some acquaintances about town, and passed his time
very pleasantly. By industry and frugality he gained money, and gave
up all thoughts of returning to Boston. The governor of the province,
Sir William Keith, had accidentally become acquainted with him, and
was desirous that he should set up in business for himself, in
Philadelphia. He promised to procure for him the public printing of
the government, and to assist him, as much as possible, by his
influence and patronage.
16. It was concluded that Franklin should return to Boston, with a
letter from the governor, to prevail upon his father to assist him in
the establishment. Towards the end of April, in 1724, he left
Philadelphia for this purpose.
17. He sailed in a little vessel that was bound for Boston, and, in
about a fortnight, was safe in his father's house. His sudden
appearance surprised the family very much, but they were all delighted
to see him, and treated him with great kindness.
18. Soon after his arrival, he paid a visit to his brother, at the
printing office. He had on a new suit of clothes, wore a watch, and
had about five pounds, in silver, in his pockets. Feeling rather
elated by the success he had met with, he made quite a display of all
his good fortune before his brother's apprentices and journeymen, and
ended by giving them a dollar to drink his health with. This visit
offended his brother very much, for he thought it was intended to
mortify him.
19. The letter of the governor was without any effect. His father was
very glad that Benjamin had been able to gain the confidence of so
eminent a man, but would not consent to his request. He wrote a civil
letter, thanking Sir William for his promise of patronage, but saying,
that his son was altogether too young to be intrusted with the
management of so important and expensive an undertaking.
20. Franklin gave so pleasant an account of Philadelphia, that his old
friend Collins determined to go on and try his fortune there. Seeing
no prospect of restoring harmony between the two brothers, his father
consented that Benjamin should return to Philadelphia. He advised him
to steady industry and frugality, and promised to assist in setting
him up in business, when he should reach the age of twenty-one. With
the approbation and blessing of his parents to follow him, he embarked
for New York, on the way to his future home.
* * * * *
1. What was the situation of the crew on the water?
2. How did Franklin pursue his journey?
3. What were his fears?
5. Describe the treatment Franklin received from the old woman.
6. How did he get to Philadelphia?
7. Describe his appearance on his first arrival there.
10. Relate his adventure in the meeting house.
11. Where did he first lodge in Philadelphia?
13. Where did he obtain employment?
15. How did Franklin succeed, and how did he pass his time? What was
the promise of Sir William Keith?
16. Why did Franklin go to Boston?
18. Describe his visit to his brother.
19. How did his father receive the governor's letter?
20. What were his advice and promise to Benjamin?