Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-12-06
DR.. FRANKLIWS VISIT TO HIS
MOTHER,

IN that city. He had been absent some
years. and at that period when the greatest
and most rupi1 alteration is made IN the hu-
man appearance; at "A time when the quer-
ulous voice Of the STRIPPING assumes the COM
manding tone of the adult, and the smiling
features of the youth are succeeded by the
strong lines of manhood. The Doctor was
sensible such was the alteration of his per-
son, that his mother could not know him,
EXCEPT by that instinct which it is believed
can cause mothers heart beat violently in
the presence of child, and point the ma
ternal eye, with quick and sudden glance, to
a beloved son.
To discover the existence Of this instinct,
by actual experience, Franklin resolved TO
introduce himself, as stranger, to his moth
or, and TO watch narrowly for the moment
in which he should discover her son, and
then to determine with the cool precision of
the philosopher. whether that discovery was
the effect Of that instinct Of afeclon-that
intritive luvc-that innate attachment
which is conjcc,ured to cement relatives Of
the same blood and which, BY according
the passions of parent and child, like well
tuned vio, would, at the first touch, cause
them to vibratc 10 unison. and at once cvnce
thai they were but different chords of the
same instrument.
On a sullen, chilly day, in tie month of
January, in the afternoon, knocked at his
mothers door and asked TO speak with Mrs.
franklin. He found the old lady knitting
before the plrlor lire--iulroduced himself,
by observing that he had been Informed she
entertained avcers, and requested IA
NIGHTS lodging. She eyed him with tina,
cold took of disapprobaion which most pco-
pie assume when they imagine themselves
insulled by being supposed to exercise an
employment but one degree below their real
occupation in life assured him that he had
been misnforned-ihat she did not keep
tavern; but that ii was true, to ohlige some
members of the Legislature, she took "A nnm-
her of them into her family, during the ses-
sion; that she then had four members of the
council and six Of the House of Representa-
lives, who boarded with her--hat all her
beds were full and then beiook herself to
her kail,ng with that intense application
which expressed as lOrcibly as actions could
do, if YOU have concluded yonr business, the
sooner you leave the house the better. Bet
upon the Doctors wrappicg his cloak around
him, affecting to shvci with cold, and OBJ
serving it was very chill weather, she poin-
ted to "a chair, and gave him leave to wprm
himself.
Tho entrance of her hoarders prccludcd
further conversational was soon serv-
ed, and the Doctor partook with the family.
To the coffee, according to the good old
custom of the times, succeeded a plate of
pippns, and a paper of McEntire'S best,
when the whole family formed "A cheerful
smoking semcrcle before the fire. Perhaps
haps no man possessed the colloqual pow
ers to more fascinating degree, than DR..
Franklin ;-and never was there an occa-
sion when he displayed those powers TO
greater advantage, than at this time. He
drew the attention Of the company, by solid
itv of modest remark -inslructed them by
the varied. and new and striking lights, in
which he placed his subject, and delighted
them with apt and amusing anecdotes.-
THUS employed, the hours passed mcrry
along, until eight O'Clock, when, punctual to
"A moment, Mrs. franklin announced supper.
! Busted with her household affairs, she fan
cied the intrnding stranger had quilted the
house, Immediately after coffee, and it was
with difficulty she could restrain her resent
ment when she saw him, without moesta-
ton, seat himself at the table with the free
dom of a member Of the family.
Immediately after supper, she called an
elderly gentleman, IA member of The council,
in whom sne was accustomed to conlile, to
another room complained bitterly of the
rudeness of the slranger--told the manner
OF his introduction to the housr-ohscrved
that he appeared like an ou,landsh man,
and, she thought, had something very suspi-
cous in his appearance, concluding by soli-
citing her friends advice with respect to the
way in which she could most easily rid her
self of his presence. The old gentleman
assured her that the stranger was certainly
a young man of education, and TO all appear
ance gentleman that perhaps, being in
agreeable company, he had paid no alten-
ton to the ateness of the hour; and advised
her to call him aside, and repeat to him her
inability to lodge him. She accordingly
sent her maid TO him, and then with as much
temper as she could command, recapitula,ed
the situation of her family, observed that ii
grew ldit, anu injury inliiHftcu liiit ne
would do well to seek himselfa lodging
The doctor replied, that he would, by no
means, ncommode the family but that,
with her leave, he would smoke one pipe
more with her boarders, and then retire.
He returned TO the company, and with the
first Whit his powers Of converse returned
with double force. He recounled, the hard
ships-he extoled the piety and policy OF
their ancestors. A gentleman present men
toned the subject of the days debate in the
House of Representatives. A bill had been
introduced, to extend the prerogatives of the
Royal Governor. The Doctor immediately
entered upon the subie ct-supported the CO.
lonial rights with new and forcible argi-
menis-was familiar with the names of the
influential men in the House when Dudley
was Governor-recited their speeches, and
applauded the noble defence of chamber OF
rights.
During a discourse so appropriately in
teresing to the company, no wonder the
clock struck eleven unperceived by the de-
LIGHTED circle: nor was il wonderful thai ,he