Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-08-20
ANECDOTE OF On. FRANKLIN,

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Misc her children, even although she had
lost all recollection of their pecuiarieaturo
The following experiment, which he made,
to ascertain whether his mother would know
him, will be thought curious and interest
ing. Ii was on visit to his native town of
Boston, after an absence of many years,
that this curious incident occurred =
To discover the existence of this ms
tinct by actual experiment., Dr. Franklin re-
solved to introduce himself as stranger
to his mother, and TO watch narrowly for
the moment in which she could discover her
son, and then to determine, with the cool
precision of philosopher, whether that
discovery was the effect of that instinct of
affection, that intuitivc love, that innate at
tachmcnt, which is conectured to cement
relatives Of the same blood and winch by
according the passions of parent and child,
like well tuned viol would, at first touch,
cause them to vibrate in unison, and at
once cvincc that they were different chords
of the same instrument.
6 On sullcn, chilly day, in the month
OF January, i'll the afternoon, the Doctor
knocked at his mothers door, and asked to
speak 10 Mrs. Franklin. He found the old
lady knitting before the parlor fire. lie in
troduccd himself, and observing that he un-
dcrstood she entertained travellers, request
ed a nights lod gng. She eyed him with
that cold look Of dsapproba,on which most
people assume, when they imagine them
selves insnlted, by being supposed to cxer-
else an employment but one degree below
their real occupation in liic-assured him
that he had been misintormcd, that she did
not keep tavern; but that it YVES true, to
obIigc some members Of the legislature, she
took number Of them into her family du-
ring the session, that she had four members
of the Council and six of House of Repre-
scntatvcs who then boarded with her that
all her beds were full ; and then betooh her
self to knitting, with that intense application,
which expressed as iorcble as action could
do, if you have concluded your business, the
sooner you leave the house the better But
upon the Doctors wrapping his coat around
him, affecting to SILVER with cold, and obscr-
wing that it was very chilly weather, she
pointed to chair, and gave him leave to
warm himself.
"The entrance of her boardcrs preclulcd
all further conversation coffee was soon
served, and The doctor partook with the IA
miIN. 10 the coffee, according to good old
custom of the times, succeeded plate of
, pippins, pipes, and a paper Of M'lntrc's
hest, when the whole family formed cheer
ul Scmi-Circlc before the fire. Per,aps no
man ever possessed colloquial powers to a
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 fhs modest
remarks, lnstructlng them by the varied, new
and striking lights in winch lic placed his
subjects, and delighted them with ant and
/ amusing anecdotes. Thus employed, the
hours past mcrrily along, unit! eight o'clock,
when punctuai to Il moment. Mrs Franklin
announced supper. Busted with her house,
hold affairs, She ancicd the intruding stranger
had quilted the house, Immediately after cot
fee, aud it was with difficulty she could res
train her resentment, when she saw him.
without molcstaton, seat himself at the table |
with the freedom Of member Of the fa- |
mily.
Immediately after supper, she called an
elderly gentleman, member of the council,
IN whom she was accustomed TO coniide, TO
another room, complained bitterly Of the
rudcncSs OF the stranger; told the manner
of his introduction to her house, observed
that he looked like an out-Iandish man. and
she thought, had something very suspicious
in his appearance, concluding by soliciting
her friends advice with respect to the way
in which she could most easily rid herself of
his presence. The old gentleman assured
her that the stranger was certainly Young
man OF education, and to all appearance, a
gentleman; that, perhaps, being in agreca-
bic company, he had paid no attention to
the alcncSs Of the hour, and advised her to
call him aside and repeat her inability TO
lodge him. She accordingly sent her maid
to him, and then, with as much respect as
She could command, rocapiulatcd the silua-
uon OF her family, observing that it grew
late, and mildly minated that he would do
well to seek himself lodging. The doctor
replied that he would by no means incom-
mode her family, bat that with her leave, he
would smoke ono pipe more with her board
crS, and then retire.
"lic returned TO the company, filled his
pipe, and with the first Whit his power retur-
ned with redoubled force. He rccountcd the
hardshps, he eXtolled the picty and policy
OF their ancestors. A gentleman prcsen,
mentioned the subject of the days debate in
the House OF Representatives. A bill had
been introduced to extend the prcroga,iyes
OF the royal governor. The Doctor immcdi-
a'eiy entered upon the subject supported
the colonial rights with new and forclblc ar
gumen's-was familiar with the names of
the influential men oithc house, when Dud-
ley was Governor, recited their speeches and
applauded the noble defence OF the charter
otrighs.
"During discourse so appropriately in
lereSting to the company, no wonder the
clock struck eleven, unperceved by the
delighted circle ; and was it wonderful tina,
the patience Of Mrs. Franklin grew quite ey-
hausted She now entered the room, and
before the whole company, with much
warmth addressed the Doctor; told him
plainly she thought herself imposed upon
observed, it was true she was lone woman.