Western Reserve chronicle and weekly transcript of the times. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1854-1855, 1855-02-21

1
caution she collected her silver spoons.
pepper-box and porringer from her closet,
and after securing her parlor door by
sticking q fork over the latch, carried
the valuables 10 her chamber, charging
the negro man to sleep with his clothes
on, to take the great eleaver to bed with
him, and to uaken and seize the vagrant
at the first noise he should make in at
tempting to plunder.
Mrs. Franklin rose be ore the sun,
then reused her domestics, and was quite
agreeably surprised to find her guest quiz
city sleeping in his chair. She awoke
him with cheerful good morning, IN
quired how he rested and invited him to
partake of her breakfast. which was ar
ways served previous to that of her
boarders.
.sAnd pray, sir" said Mrs. Franklin,
''as you appear to be strangerin BIS
ton, to what distant country do you be-
long?"
81 belong. madam, to the Colony of
Pennsylvania, and reside in PhiIadel.
phis." Atthe mention of Philadelphia,
the Doctor declared be for the first time
perceived something like emotion in her.
PHILADELPHIA said she, while the
earnest anxiety of mother suffused her
eye; "why, if you live in Philadelphia
perhaps you know my Ben ?"
"Who. madam"
"Ben Franklin, my dear Ben Oh,
how l would give the world ia see him
He is the dearest son that ever blessed
mother.
"Whatl is Ben Frsnklin. the printer,
your son? Why he is my most intimate
friend He and 1 worked together and
lodged in the same ROOM"
"ohi Heaven forgive me p exclaimed
the lady, raising her fearful eyes. '-and
have ] suffered friend of my own Ben,
to sleep upon this hard chair, while L
myself rested upon soft bedl"
Mrs. Franklin then told her unknown
guest that though he had been absent
from her ever since he was child, she
could not fail 10 know him among a
thousand strange faces, for there was a
natural feeling III the breast of every
mother, which she knew would enable
her without the possibility of mistake
to recognize her son in any disguise he
|mightassume. aa
Franklin doubted, and took leave TO
dispute his mothers proposition on the
power of natural feeling. He said he
had tried this natural feeling in his own
mother, and found it sadly deficient in
the power she ascribed to it.
"And did your mother, inquired she.
''not know you? or if she did not seem
to know you, was there hot, in her kind
ness to you, an evidence that she saw
something in your appearance that was
dear to her, so that she could not resist
treating you with particular tenderness
and affection?"
No, indeed, I" replied Franklin, .'she
neither knew me, nor did ssshe treat me
with the least symptom of kindness
She would have turned me out of doors
but for the interposition of strangers
She would hardly be pers&ded to let
me sit at her table. l knew 1 was in
my mothers house. and had a claim
upon her hospitality; and, therefore,
you may suppose. when she peremptorily
commanded me 10 leave the house, was
in no hurry 10 obey"
Surely, interrupted his mother, .she
could not have etreated you so unmotherly
without some cause %
81 gave her none," replied the Doctor.
She would tell you herself 1 had al
ways been dutiful son, that she doated
upon me, and that when came to her
house as stranger, my behavior was
scrupulously correct and respectful. 1t
was stormy night. and / had been ab-
sent SO long that had become a s,ran-
ger in the place. told my mother this,
and yet, SO little was she influenced by
that natural feeling of which you speak,
that she absolutely refused me bed, and
would hardly suffer what she called my
in taking seat at the table.
But this was not the worst; no sooner
was the supper ended, than my good
mother told me, with an air of solemn
that 1 must leave her house.
Franklin then proceeded to describe
the scene at the front door-the snow
drift that came SO cpportunely into the
appeal to her natural feel
ing of mother-her unnatural and un-
feeling rejection of his prayer-and final
ly, her very reluctant compliance with
the solicitations Of other persons in his
behalf-that he be permitted to sleep on
a chair.
Every word in this touching recital
went home to the heart Of Mrs. Franklin,
who could not fail to perceive that it
was a true narrative Of the events of the g
preceding night in her own house; and
while she endeavored to escape from the
self-reproach that she had acted the part
of an unfeeling mother, she could not ca
SLY fesist the 6onvEicattiJn thai fhe sfran-