_Troubled by his Friend Ralph. Obtains Employment. Ralph turns
Schoolmaster, and begins an Epic Poem. Franklin teaches some of his
Friends to swim. Anecdote of Mr. Denham. Return to Philadelphia. Story
of George Webb. Franklin quarrels with Keimer. Returns to work for
him. Employed at Burlington. Leaves Keimer._
1. His friend Ralph had accompanied Franklin to London, and they were
now inseparable companions. They took lodgings together, at three
shillings and sixpence a week. Ralph appears to have been a conceited
and helpless character, and made several attempts to get in the way of
procuring a livelihood. But all his plans were unsuccessful.
2. Franklin immediately procured employment at an extensive printing
house, where he remained nearly a year. He was diligent in work, but
his shiftless companion consumed a good share of his earnings. His
engagements with Miss Read he was thoughtless and heartless enough to
forget, and never wrote to her but once during his absence. This
conduct he afterwards considered among the greatest faults of his
life.
3. Ralph finally determined to leave London, and take a school in the
country. As he was very vain, and confident of rising to literary
eminence, he was rather ashamed of what he was silly enough to
consider a mean occupation. He accordingly changed his name, and took
that of his companion; desiring him to address his letters to "Mr.
Franklin, school-master."
4. Ralph continued to write, and, from time to time, troubled his
friend with long extracts from an epic poem, which he was then
composing, requesting his remarks and corrections. Franklin endeavored
to discourage him from this undertaking, but in vain. Sheet after
sheet continued to come by every post. Some difficulties at length
broke out between the two friends, and Franklin was fortunately
relieved of a burdensome dependent.
5. He now began to think of laying up a little money; and, in
expectation of better employment, entered a still larger printing
house, near Lincoln's Inn Fields. His new employer was named Watts. At
this place he became acquainted with a man by the name of Wygate, who
had been well educated, read French and Latin, and loved reading.
6. This man and a friend of his were desirous of learning to swim.
Franklin had been an expert swimmer from his childhood, and was very
fond of displaying his feats of activity in the water. He taught them
to swim, after twice going into the river, and they soon became quite
skilful. Wygate soon became attached to Franklin, and, at length,
proposed that they should travel all over Europe together, supporting
themselves on the way by working at their trade. Franklin was inclined
to this plan, but was dissuaded from it by his friend, Mr. Denham, who
advised him to think of returning to Philadelphia.
7. Mr. Denham was an excellent man, and very kindly disposed towards
Franklin. He had formerly been in business in Bristol, a city of
England, but failing, and making a settlement with his creditors, he
went to America. He had obtained a discharge from all his debts, by
giving up all his property. By great industry and economy, he was able
to acquire a large fortune, in a few years.
8. He had returned to England, in the same ship with Franklin, and
immediately visited his old place of business. While here, he invited
all his old creditors to an entertainment. He then thanked them for
the easy settlement they had favored him with; and, when they expected
nothing but the dinner, every man found, under his plate, an order on
the banker, for the full amount of the unpaid remainder, with
interest.
9. Mr. Denham was now about to return to Philadelphia, and proposed to
take Franklin over as his clerk. He promised him, as soon as he became
acquainted with mercantile business, to promote him, and finally
establish him in some profitable situation. The plan pleased Franklin,
for he had become heartily tired of London, and was anxious to return
home. A satisfactory arrangement was made, and Franklin took leave of
printing, as he thought, forever.
10. He had thus spent about eighteen months in London, and, during
this time, had increased his knowledge, though he had not improved his
fortune. They sailed from Gravesend, near the mouth of the river
Thames, on the 23d of July, and arrived in Philadelphia early in
October. Franklin here found several alterations. Keith was no longer
governor, and his place had been supplied by Major Gordon. Miss Read,
despairing of his return, had been persuaded by her friends to marry a
man by the name of Rogers, a worthless fellow, who left her, and ran
away to the West Indies.
11. Mr. Denham took a store, and Franklin attended diligently to the
business. Affairs were going on prosperously, when they were both
taken violently ill, in the beginning of the year 1727. Mr. Denham
died, after a long sickness, and Franklin was again thrown upon the
world. He tried for some time to obtain a situation as a merchant's
clerk, but, failing in this attempt, he again made an engagement with
his old master, Keimer.
12. Keimer was anxious to obtain Franklin's services, as most of his
hands were ignorant and needed his instruction. Among these workmen
was George Webb, who had been an Oxford scholar, and whose story was
an uncommon instance of opportunities neglected and thrown away.
13. He was about eighteen years of age. His birthplace was Gloucester,
in England, where he was educated at a grammar school, and had been
distinguished when they exhibited plays. From here, he was sent to
Oxford, where he continued about a year, but not contentedly; wishing,
of all things, to see London, and become a player.
14. At length, receiving his quarterly allowance of fifteen guineas,
instead of discharging his debts, he went out of town, hid his gown in
a bush, and walked to London. When here, having no friend to advise
him, he fell into bad company, soon spent his guineas, found no means
of being introduced among the players, grew poor, pawned his clothes,
and wanted bread.
15. Walking about the streets, very hungry, and not knowing what to
do, a bill was put into his hands, offering immediate entertainment
and encouragement to such as would bind themselves to serve in
America. He went directly to sign the indentures, was put into the
ship, and sailed without writing a line to his friends, to tell them
what had become of him. As a companion, he was lively, witty, and
good-natured; but idle, thoughtless, and imprudent to the last degree.
16. After continuing a while with Keimer, Franklin found that his
services became every day of less importance. At length a trifle
snapped their connection. A great noise happening near the printing
office, Franklin put his head out of the window to see what was the
matter. Keimer, being in the street, looked up, and called out to him,
in a loud and angry tone, to mind his business. A number of neighbors,
who were standing by, saw the insolent manner in which he was treated,
and it vexed him exceedingly. An open quarrel ensued, and Franklin
left the printing house.
17. Keimer was very desirous of persuading him to return; and, as it
was for the interest of both that harmony should be restored, the
quarrel was soon forgotten. A job was now obtained in New Jersey, to
print some paper money. Franklin contrived a copperplate press for the
purpose, the first that had been seen in the country; he also cut
several ornaments and checks for the bills.
18. To execute this job, Franklin and his employer went to Burlington.
They performed it to the satisfaction of the government, and received
a large compensation. During his short residence here, Franklin made
many acquaintance and friends. One of them was Isaac Decon, the
surveyor-general, a shrewd, sagacious old man, who began, when young,
by wheeling clay for the brick-makers. He learned to write after he
was twenty-one years of age, afterwards learned surveying, and had now
acquired, by his industry, a considerable property.
19. What had chiefly induced Franklin to return to Keimer, after his
quarrel, was the persuasion of a fellow-workman, by the name of
Meredith. The father of this young man had promised to advance money
to establish him in business, in the ensuing spring, and he was
desirous to set Franklin's skill against his own capital, and form a
copartnership. The proposal was a fair one, and acceptable upon both
sides.
20. A short time after their return from Burlington, the types that
Meredith had ordered arrived from London. They settled with Keimer,
and left him, by his consent, before he knew any thing about their
project.
* * * * *
2. Where did Franklin procure employment?
3. What was the course of his friend Ralph?
5. What new friend did Franklin make?
6. What proposition did he make to Franklin? Why was not the plan
carried into execution?
7. Who was Mr. Denham?
8. Describe his honorable conduct towards his old creditors.
9. What proposal did he make to Franklin?
10. How long was Franklin in London? What changes had taken place
during his absence?
11. How was Franklin again thrown upon the world? What employment did
he obtain?
12. Who was George Webb?
13, 14, 15. What was his story?
16. How did Franklin quarrel with Keimer?
17. Who contrived the first copperplate press ever seen in this
country?
18. For what purpose did Franklin visit Burlington?
19. What induced Franklin to return to Keimer, after the separation?
What was the proposal of Meredith?
20. When did they leave Keimer?