Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-05-10
\ Gistoritol 5kettb.
THE GOVERNOR G. THE PRINTER.
A TALE OE TRUTH.

franklin had just returned from assisting
poor Collins TO bed, when the Captain of
the vessel which had brought him to New
York, stepped up and in a very respectful
manner put note into his hand Ben
| opened, not without some agitation, and
read as follows:
sc. Burnetl'S compliments await young
MIR. Franklin, and should be glad to have
half an hours chat with him over a glass
Of wne."
sc. Burnett, said Ben, "who can that
| be 90
"Why, 'tis the Governor" replied the
Captain with smile 81 have Just been
to see him with some letters brought him
from Boston and when | told him what
a world of books you have, he expressed
curiosity TO see you, and begged I would
return with you to his palace"
Ben instantly set off with the Captain,
but not without sigh as he cast a look at
the door of the poor Collins bedroom, to
think what an honor that wretched man had
lost for the sake Of two or three guIphs of
filthy grog.
The Governors looks at The approach of
Ben, showed somewhat disappointment.
He had, it seems, expected considerable
entertainment from Ben'S conversation
But his fresh and ruddy countenance show
ed him SO much younger than he haG
counted on, that he gave up all his pro-
missed entertainments a lost hope. He
received Ben, however, with great polite
ness, and after pressing on him a glass OF
wine, took him into an adjoining room
which was his library, consisting of large
and well chosen selection.
Seeing the pleasure which sparSled in
Ben's eyes, as he surveyed so many elegant
authors, and thought of the rich stores oil
knowledge which they contained; the Gov
ernor with smile OF comp!acency, as on
a young pupil of scieace, said to him
"WelI, Mr.. Franklin, / am told by the
Captain, here, that you have fine collec-
ton, too."
SONY a trunk full, sir" said Ben.
ga trunk full, sir 2" replied the Cover,
nor, "why what use can you have for SC
many books Young people at your age
have seldom read beyond the tenth chapter
of Nehemiah"
81 can't boast replied Ben, "of having
read great deal beyond that myself; bu
still should be sorry if could not get
trunk full TO read every six months"
: At this, the Governor, regarding hin
) with look of surprise, said
o "You must then, though so young, be
a scholar-PerhaPs a teacher of the langua
;, gesp
: "No, sir" said Ben, 81 know no Ian
, guage but my own"
"What, not Latin or Greek %
"No, sir, not a word of either"
= "Why, don't you think them necessf
ry 2" s4.
S 81 don't set myself up as a judge-but
should not suppose them necessary"
J "Aye! well | should like 10 hear yol
reasons"
"Why, sir, I am not competent TO Civ
reasons that may satisfy a gentleman
your learning, but the following are II
reasons with which satisfy myself.
$, look on language, sir, merely as arbitral
sounds or characters, whereby men cor
municate their ideas to each other. No
|, | already possess a language which is cap
= BILE of conveying more ideas than | sha
'e ever acquire. Were it not wiser in me
T. improve my time in sense through that OF
q. language, than waste it in getting me
sounds through fifty languages, even if
could learn as many"
Here the Governor paused momer
though not without a little red on /
cheeks for having put Ben and the ten