Southern telegraph., 1836-08-02

hun so much younger than he had counted,
on, that he fave up all his promised enter
tainment as lost hope. He received Ben,
however, win great poli,eness, and, after
pressing on him glass Of wine, took him
inIo an adjoining room, which was his Ii
brary, consisting Of a large and well chosen
collection.
Seeing the pleasure which sparkled in
Ben's eyes, as be surveyed so many elegant
authors, and thought Of the rich stores of
knowledge which they contained, the gov
enor, with a smilo Of complacency, as on
a young pupil of science, said to him,
"Well, Mr.. Franklin, am told by the
captain here, you have a 6ue collection
too.n
"Only trunk full, sir" said Ben.
"A trunk full, sir!" replied the governor,
"wly, what use can you have for so many
bools9 Young people, at your age, have
seldIm read beyond the tenth chapter Of
Nehemiah
I" can boast" replied Ben, a" of having
read a great deal beyond that myself, but
still, I should be sorry if | could not get a
trunk full Of books to read every six months
Al this the governor, regarding him with
a lock Of surprise, said:
"You must then, though so young, be n
scholar perhaps teacher of the Ian,
guages2"
mo, sir" answered Ben, "I know nc
language but my owns"
"What, not Latin nor Greek?"
"No, sir, not a word of either"
"Why, don't you think them necessary9' q
"I don't set myself up as a judge; but
should not suppose them necessary"
cay! we'll, should like to hear YOU
reason"
"Why, sir, | am not competent to give
reasons that may satisfy man of you
learning, but the following are the reasons
with which satisfy myself. ! look on Ian
guage, sir, merely as arbitrary sounds o
characters, whereby men communicate thei
ideas to each other. Now, already posses
a language which is capable Of conyeyin!
more ideas than | shall ever acquire; wer,
it not wiser in me to improve my time il
ginning sense, through that one language
than waste It in getting mere sounds througl
fifty languages, even il could learn d
( many!'
Here the governor paused Il mOmen
though not without little red on his cheek:
, for having only minute before put Be
5 and chapter x. of Nehemiah q, close tc
n IA
took another start:-
d swell, but, my dear sir, you certainl
n differ from the learned world, which is, 20
s know, decidedly in favor Of the languages
r 81 would not wish wantonly to differ froI
y the learned world" said Ben, " "especial II
when they maintain opinions that SCENE
= to me founded in truth. But when this
not the case, to differ from them, hav
d oSer thought my duty, and especially sine
T. | studied Locke"
!, "Locke" cried the governor with sui
it prise, "yoW studied Locker"
d "Yes, sir, studied Locke on the Undc
standing three years ago, when was th
e teen"
n "You amaze me, sir. You study Lock
on the Understanding at thirteena"
Q "Yes, sir, did"
DWELL, and pray at what college did yc
is study Locke at thirteen; for al C,..mbridg
college, in Old England, where got m
:, education, they never allowed the seni'
y class to look at Locke till eighteen"
r "Why, sir, it was my misfortune new
II to be at college, nor even gramm;
% school, except nine months, when | was
Of child?"
re- Here the governor sprang from his seG
and staring at Ben, cried out,
Of "The devil! well, and where-whe
did you get your education, praya"
/ "At home, sir, in a tallOw-l handler
Is, shop"
IS. ain tallow-chandIer's shop!" scream
&c the governor.
n Yes, sir, my father was poor old tallC
n chandler, with sixteen children, and | i
p, youngest Of all. AT eight hc put mo
It. school, but finding he could not spare d
Id money from the rest of the children to ke
me there, he took nc into tho shop, whe
cd | assisted him by twisting the candIe-wic
he and filling the moulds all day, and at mig
he | read by myself At twelve, my faith
ID bound me to my brother, printer in b
ton, and with him worked there all day,
press and case, and again read by myself
night"
to Hero tho governor, spanking his han
OF together, put up loud whistle, while
Nv eye-balls, wild with surprise, rolled abc
lul in their sockets, as if in a mighty mind
m hop out:
nd "ImPossjble, young mani" he cxclaimc
impossible; you are only sounding I
ng credulity. can never believe the one h
alf Of all this " Then, turning to the capita
OF he said:--" Captain, you are an intelligc
man, and from Boston; pray tell me, c
lat this young man be aiming at any thing |
$ to quiz mcg'
he "No, indeed, please your excellency
TO replied tho captain; +" Mr.. Franklin is
i'm qnizsing you; he is saying what is rea
1 a trae, for am acquainted with his faLE