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CHAPTER VI.

HIS VISIT TO BOSTON AND RETURN TO PHILADELPHIA.

It was now seven months since Benjamin had left home without the knowledge of any of his relatives, and during all that time they had received no tidings of him; for his brother-in-law, Captain Holmes, had not yet returned to Boston, since his correspondence with Benjamin, while at Newcastle, nor had he said anything concerning him, in his letters. His appearance, therefore, took his parents and other friends by surprise. They were, nevertheless, glad to see him again, and they all gave him a cordial welcome home, except only his brother James, the printer. In his own narrative, Franklin says: "I went to see him at his printinghouse. I was better dressed than ever while in his service, having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a watch, and my pockets lined with near five pounds sterling, in silver. He received me not very frankly, looked me all over, and turned to his work again."

This sullen coldness of James, however, did not chill the hands in the office, who received their former workfellow and companion, now returned from his travels, in a very different spirit. They gave him a hearty greeting, and crowded round him eager to learn where he had been, what he had seen, what he had been doing, and especially how he liked the place where he had been working at his trade, and what encouragements it offered in

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DECISION AGAINST THE NEW PROJECT.

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that line. Benjamin cheerfully answered their inquiries, spoke warmly in praise of Philadelphia and of the happy life he led there, and in strong terms declared his intention to return thither. On being asked by one of the hands, what sort of money was commonly in use there, he replied by spreading a handful of silver coin before them, which, as he remarks, was a kind of raree-show they had not been used to," the currency in Boston, at that period, consisting almost exclusively of paper-money. He then showed them his watch; and finally, observing the sullen demeanor of his brother, he gave them a dollar to regale themselves with, and took his leave.

These things, as it afterward appeared, offended his brother deeply; for when their excellent mother subsequently took an opportunity to speak to him of reconciliation, expressing her earnest desire to see them living together in mutual kindness, as brothers should, James replied to her, says Benjamin, "that I had insulted him in such a manner, before his people, that he could never forget or forgive it." It is gratifying to record, however, that in the last particular James was mistaken, and that the two brothers became ultimately reconciled.

Josiah Franklin, the father, read Governor Keith's letter, as might well be supposed, with no little surprise. Being a circumspect and prudent man, however, he deferred saying much about it to Benjamin, until he could see his son-in-law, Captain Holmes, to whom, when he got back to Boston, he immediately showed the letter, and made very particular inquiries of him as to Keith's character; expressing much doubt of his discretion, from his having proposed to place so young a person as Benjamin, in so responsible a situation; and entering fully into the consideration of the whole matter.

Holmes, who felt a warm regard for his young brotherin-law and had formed a high estimate of his abilities, presented, in favor of the project, such reasons as his knowledge of Philadelphia and of the prospects of business in that quarter, as well as the capacity of Benjamin and the esteem in which he was held, could supply. But the clear understanding and solid judgment of the father not being convinced, he at length, after due deliberation, gave an unqualified decision against the proposed scheme, and wholly refused to render his assistance to carry it into effect. He stated this determination, in very civil language, in a letter to Governor Keith, in which he thanked him for the countenance he had given his son, and for the patronage he had so kindly promised him; placing his own decision in the case, on the ground that his son was too young and inexperienced safely to encounter the responsibilities of a business, which required such considerable means to establish it, and so much care, discretion, and steadiness, to manage it successfully.

But, though such was the decision concerning the proposed plan, yet Benjamin was largely compensated, for the disappointment of any hopes he might have indulged, in that respect, by the deep gratification his father plainly manifested, at finding that his son had not only been able to win the notice and esteem of a person of such distinction as Sir William Keith, but that he had also been able, by his industry and frugality, to provide for himself so well, in so short a time. These circumstances, together with the embittered state of feeling on the part of James, which rendered any harmonious co-operation between the two brothers hopeless, at least for the present, induced the father to give his ready consent to Benjamin's return to Philadelphia; accompanying that consent with his advice to the young man

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