Volcano weekly ledger., 1855-10-27

My dear madam, can you turn me ont in
this Storm am stranger in this town
and will perish in the street. You look like
a charitable LADY, should not think that
You could turn dog from your house this
cold and stormy sdghtp
Don't talk of charity replied his moth
er; charity begins at home II is your own
fault, not mine, that you have tarried so long.
To be plain with you, sir, do not like either
your looks or your conduct, and fear YOU have
some bad design in thus intruding yourself in
to nay family"
The wrath Of this parley had drawn the
company from the parlor, and by their united
interference the stranger was permitted 10
lodge in the house; and as no bed could De
had he consented to rest in the easy choir
before the parlor fire.
Though the boarders appeared to eonfde
in the strangers honesty, it was not so with
Mrs. Franklin. With suspicious caution she
collected her silver spoons, pepper-box and
porringer from her closet, and after securing
her parlor door by sticking fork over the
latch, carried the valuablcs to her chamber,
charging the negro man TO sleep with his
clothes on, to take the great cleaver to bed
with him. and to waken and seize the vagrant
at the first noise he should make in attempt
ing TO plumber.
Mrs. Franklin rose before the sun, reused
the domestics and was quite agreeably sur
prised to find her terrific guest quietly sleep
ing in his chair. She awoke him with a
cheerful good morning, inquired how he had
rested, aud invited him TO partake Of her
breakfast, which was always served previous
to that Of her boardcrs
And pray, sir,p said Mrs. Franklin "as
you appear to be a stranger in Boston, to
what distant country do you belongyp
+" belong, madam, TO the colony Of Penn
sylyania and reside in Philadelphia
At the mention of Philadelphia, the doctor
declared he for the first time perceived some
thing 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 SOM"
"Who, madam"
Ben Franklin, my dear Ben. Oh, now
L would give the world to see him! He
is the dearest son that ever blessed a
mother
What! is Ben Franklin the printer your
song Why, he is my most intimate friend
He and worked together and lodged in the
same room"
"0hl Heaven forgive mel" exclaimed the
lady, raising her fearful eyes; "and have
suffered friend of my son Ben TO sleep upon
this hard chair, while | myself rested on a
soft hedly
Mrs. Franklin then told her unknown
guest that though he had been absent from
her ever since he was child, she could not
fail to know him among thousand strange
faces; for there was natural feeling in the
breast Of every mother, which she knew
would enable her, withe0t the possibility II
a mistake, TO recognize her son in any dis
gaisc>he might assume.
Franklin doubted, and took leave to dis
pute his mothers proposition on the power OF
natural feeling. He said he had tried this
natural feeling in his own mother, and
found it deficient in the power she ascribed
to ii.
"And did your mother" inquired she,
not know your or if she did not seem to
know YOU, was there not in her kindness
TO You an evidence that she saw something
in your appearance which was dear to her,
so that she could not resist treating YOU
with particular tenderness and effectiontn
NO, indeed" replied Franklin she
neither knew me, nor did she treat me with
the least symptom Of kindness. She would
have turned me out Of doors but for the in
terpostion OF strangers. She could hardly
be persuaded TO let me sit at her table. /
knew was in my mothers house, and had
claim upon her hospitality; and, therefore,
you may suppose, when she temporarily com
lnanded me to leave the house, | was in no
hurry to obey"
Surely" interrupted his mother, she
could not have treated you so unmotherly
without some cause.p
81 gave her none,' replied the DOCTOR
" She would tell you herself l had always
been dutiful son-that she doatcd upon me,
and then when came TO her house as a
stranger, my behavior was scrupulously cor
rect and respectful 1t was a stormy night,
and had been absent so long that | had be-
come stranger in the place. ] told my
mother this, and yet, so little was she inhu-
euced by that natural feeling of which you
speak, that she absolutely refused me bed
and would hardly suffer what she called my
presumption in taking seat at the table
But this was not the worst, but no sooner
was the supper ended than my good mother
told me with an air of solemn earnestness, that
must leave the house,
Franklin then proceeded to describe the
scene at the front door--the snow drift that
came SO opportunately into the cntry--his
appeal 10 her natural feeling" Of a mother
her unnatural and unfeelng rejection of his