The Argosy — page 139: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

126 Benjamin Franklin. or what is called such, drew on him the notice of Sir William Keith, the provincial governor, who henceforward paid him much attention, | even going so faras to invite him often to his house to dinner parties. This went fair to turn the lad’s head, and made his new master, a printer named Keimer, exceedingly jealous. Sir William depreciated this man, and urged Benjamin to set up a printing office on his own score, promising to support it. The boy, for he was still only seven- teen, spoke of his youth, and lack of sufficient means ; but all obstacles were cried down. ‘The governor loved popularity and new objects of patronage, and was given to promising everything and doing nothing of what he engaged to do; but Benjamin had to live a good while longer before he learned to estimate this new friend at his real worth. | He, at length, allowed himself to be talked into returning to Boston, to ask his father to help him in setting up alone in business, taking with him a very flattering letter from Sir William. Perhaps he was, in any case, glad of an excuse for seeing once more the dear home people, for news of which-he had vainly pined now for nine months. He obtained a holiday, therefore, from Keimer, without betraying his projects; took leave of Miss Read, into whose father’s house his present master had sent him to lodge, and set forth, dressed in his best suit, with a good horse to ride, a watch in one pocket and some money to jingle in another; altogether a new indi- vidual, so far as externals went, from the runaway ‘“’prentice” of last year. As he travelled homewards he tells of all the wearisome delays he had at each inn from the curiosity of the inhabitants. At length he composed a short biography for such occasions, and his first proceed- ing henceforth was to summon all—master, mistress, children and servants—to assemble and listen, while he addressed them thus: ‘Good people, I am Benjamin Franklin, printer by trade, still a youth. I have relations in Boston, whither I journey on business. I shall remain there but a short time, and shall then return to my duties, as a wise man should. ‘This is all I can tell you, and I therefore beg of you now to have pity on me, and attend as quickly as you can to my wants, and to those of my horse.” Franklin’s appearance in Boston created quite a sensation, when backed up by his accounts of his prosperous life in Philadelphia. His brother James turned green with envy and white with rage. His friend Collins straightway threw up his good clerkship, and not wait- ing even to return with Benjamin, preceded him as far as New York. Here, while lingering idly, he fell into habits of intemper- ance, and lived henceforth but to be a burden to himself and a thorn in the side of Franklin. From that time he became a confirmed drunkard. He involved his friend in a debt which entangled him in trouble for years. Josiah and Abiah Franklin wept over and blessed their prodigal, COMMICE OOO KS (EO)