Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-05-26
DR.. FRANKLIN AND HIS MOTHER
A BEAUTIFUL SKETCH.

| kind of instinct Of natural affection, rec
ognize .her children, even though she had
lost the recollection oftheir features. And
on visit to his native town Of Boston,
after an absence Of many years, he deter
mined to ascertain by experiment, whether
his theory was correct or not.
On bleak and chilly day in the month
Of January, the Doctorlate in the afternoon
knocked on the door of his mothers house.
and asked to speak with Mrs. Franklin
He found the old lady knitting before tho
parlor fire. He introduced himself, and
observing that he understood she entertain
ed travlers, requested lodging for the night.
She eyed him with that cold look OF re-
probation which most people assume who
imagine thcmselvs insulted by being sup
posed to exercise an employment which
they deem a degree below their real
occupation in life. She assured him he
had been misinformed-she did not keep
tavern, nor did she keepa house to enter
tain strangers. 1t was true, she added,
that to oblige some members ofthe Legis-
lature, shetook a small number ofthem into
her family during the session; that she had
four members of the Council and six of the
House Of Representatives; who boarded
with her-and that all her beds were full.
Having said this, she re umed her knit
ting with that intense application which
said as forcibly as action could--i you have
concluded your business, the sooner you
leave the house the better But on the Doc
tors wrapping his cloak about him, af-
fectingto shiver, and observing tnat the
weather was very cold, she pointed to a
chair and gave him leave to warm him
self.
The entrance of boarders prevented all
further conversation. Caffee was soon
served and he partook with the family
70 the coffee, according to the good old
custom of the times, succee led a plate of
| pippins, pies, and paper of tobacco,
when the whole company formed cheer
ful smoking semi-circle before the fire.
Perhaps no man ever possessed col
loquial powers in a more fascinating de-
gree than Dr. franklin and never was
there occasion on which he displayed
them to better advantage than the pre-
sent one. He drew tho attention ofthe COM
panv by the solidity Of his modest re-
marks, instructing them by the varied,
new and striking lights in which he placed
his subjects, and delighted them with apt
illustrations and amusing anecdotes.
Thus employed, the hours passed mer-
rily along until supper was announced
Mrs. Franklin, busted with her household
affairs, supposed the intruding stranger
had left the house Immediately after coffee.
and it was with difficulty she saw him
seat himself at the table with the freedom
of member of the family.
Immediately after supper, she called an
elderly gentleman, member Of the Coun-
Gil, in whom she was accustomed to con-
fde in and ask advice of, into an
other room, complained bitterly of the
rudeness of the stranger, told the manner
of his introduction to her house, observed
that he seemed like an outlandish sort of
man. She thought he had something
very suspicious in his appearance, and she
concluded by soliciting her frieud's advice
as to the way in which she could most
easily rid herself of his presence. The
old gentleman assured her that the stranger
was surely young man of good edu-
cation-that, perhaps, being in agreeable
company, he paid no attention to the late
nsss of the hour. He advised her to call
the stranger aside and repeat her inability
to lodge him. She accordingly sent her
maid to him, and with as much COM
placency as she could com mand, she re-
capitulated the situation of her family,
observed that it grew late, and mildly in
timated that he would do well to seek lod-
gings.
The Doctnr replied that he would by
no means incommode her family, ,.but with
her leave he would smoke one more
pipe with her boarders, and then re-
tire.
He returned to the company. filled his
pipe, and with the first Whit his CONVEX
sotional powers returned with double force.
He recounted the hardships endured by
their ancestors; he extolled their piety,
virtue, and devotion to religious freedom.
The subject of the days debate in the
House of Representatives was mentioned
by one af the members. A bill had been
introduced to extend the prerogatives of
the royal governor. The Doctor i'm
mediately joined in the discussion, sup
ported the colonial rights with new and
forcible arguments, was familiar with the
names ofthe influential men in the House
when Dudley was governor; recited their
speeches, and applauded their noble de-
fenses of the charter of rights.
During discourse so appropriately
interesting to the delighted company, no
wonderthe clock struck eleven unperceived
by them. Nor was it a wonder that the
patience of Mrs. Franklin became exhaust
ed. She now entered the room and ad
dressed the Doctor before the whole COM
pany, with warmth glowing with q de-
termination to be her own protectoress.-
She told him plainly that she thought her.
self imposed on, but that she had friends
who would defend her, and insisted that
he should Immediately leave the house.
The Doctor made slight apology and
deliberately put on his great coat and hat,
took polite leave of the company, and
approached the street door, attended by
the mistress and lighted by the maid.
While the Doctor and his companions
bod La,n an;ovinu them ealyes within a |