Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-11-27
ANlEcDoTE OF DIR. FRANKLIN

Doctor Benjamin Franklin, after the
4 decease of his father, returned to Bos-
ton, in order to pay his respects to his
mother, who resided in that town. He
had been absent some years, and at that
period of life when the greatest and
most rapid alteration is made in the HUI
man appearance; at a time when the
querulous voice of the STRIPPING assumes
the commanding tone of the adult, and
the smiling features of the youth, are
succeeded by the strong lines of man
hood-The doctor was sensible such
was the alteration of his person, that his
mother could not know him, except by
that instinct which it is believed can
cause a mothers heart to beat violently
in the presence ola child, and point the
maternal eye, with quick and sudden
glance, to a beloved son.
To discover the existence of this in
stinct by actual experience, the doctor
resolved to introduce himself, as a
stranger, to his mother, and watch mar
rowly, Tor the moment in which she
should discover her son, and then to de
terlnine, with the cool precision of the
philosopher, whether that discovery was
the effect of that instinct of affection
that intuitive ioye-that innate attach
ment, which is conjectured to cement
relatives of the same blood; and which,
by according the passions of parent and
child, like awell tuned viol, would, at
the first touch, cause them to vibrate in
unison, and at once evince that they
were different chords of the same instru-
ment.
On sullen chilly day in the month
of January, in the afternoon, the doctor
knocked at his mothers door, and asked
to speak with Mrs. Franklin. He found
the old lady knitting before the parlor
fire; introduced himself, by observing,
that he had been informed, she enter
tanned travellers, and requested nights
lodging. She eyed him with that cold
look of disapprobation which most peo-
pie assume when they imagine them
selves insulted by being supposed to ex-
ercise an employment but one degree
below their real occupation in life: as
sured him that he had been misinform-
ed; that she did not keep tavern; but
that it was true, to oblige some mem
bers Of the legislature, she took num-
Der of them into her family, during the
session; that she then had four MEM
bers of the council, and six of the house
Of representatives, who then boarded
with her; that all her beds were full
and then betook herself to her knitting,
with that intense application which ex-
pressed, as forcibly as action could do,
if you have concluded your business,
the sooner you leave the house the bet
ter. But, upon the doctors wrapping
his coat around him, affecting to SILVER
with cold, and observing that it was very
chilly weather, she pointed to chair,
and gave him leave to warm himself.
The entrance of the boarders pre-
cluded all further conversation--coffee
was soon served, and the doctor partook
with the family. To the coffee, accord
ing to the good old custom of the times,
succeeded a plate Of pippins, pipes, and
a paper of MsEntire's best, when the
whole family formed cheerful smoking
semi-circle, before the fire. Perhaps
no man ever possessed the colloquial
powers to more fascinating degree,
than DR.. Franklin: and never was there
an occasion, when he displayed those
powers to greater advantage, than at this
time. He drew the attention of the
company, by the solidity Of modest re-
mark-instructed them by the varied,
new, and striking lights in which he pla-
eed his subject, and delighted them with
apt and amusing anecdotes. Thus en-
ployed, the hours past merrily along I'M
I'll eight o'clock-when, punctual to
moment, Mrs. Franklin announced sup
per. Busted with her household affairs,
she fancied the intruding stranger had
quilted the house, Immediately after cof-
fee, and it was with difficulty she could
RESTRAIN her resentment, when she saw
him, without molestation, seat himself
at the table with the freedom of menu
Der of the family.
Immediately after supper, she called
an elderly gentleman, member of the
council, in whom she was accustomed
to con6de, to another room--complain-
ed bitterly, of the rudeness of the
stranger-told the manner of his intro
duction to the house; observed that he
appeared like an .outlandish man, and,
she thought, had something very suspi-
cious In his appearancc--concluding, by
soliciting her friends advice, with res
pect to the way in which she could
most easily rid herself Of his presence.
The old gentleman assured her, that
The stranger was certainly n Young man