Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-05-03
Anecdotes of DR.. Franklin.

| AT the age Of seventeen he left dis native
| city Of Boston, and after a somewhat tedi-
Gus voyage, arrived at Philadelphia about
| s o'clock on q Sunday morning. Soon as
| the boat struck the place Of landing, Ben
| put his hand into his pocket and asked what
was the uamege The boatmen answered,
nothing" which was very well for him, as
his whole stock of cash amounted to but
little more than dollar. Having parted
with the companions of his voyage, he
walked up market street in search OF some
thing to eat. He had gone but short dis
tance before be met q child bearing in his
arms that,rnost welcome Of all sights to
hungry mana fine loaf Of bread. Ben ca
| gerly asked him where he had got it. The
child. turning round. lifted his little arm,
and pointing up the street, with great sim
! plicity and sweetness said, Don't you see
that little hsnesxthnt little white house way
up yonder ?"~Efs." said Ben. well, then"
continued the chiM, that's the bakers
house there's where my NANNY sends me
every morning to get bread for oil IRE chit.
dren r' Ben blessed his sweet lips Of inuO-
cence. and Fastening to the house, boldly
called for three Pence worth Of bread. The
baker threw him down three large rolls.
What all this for Mree-pepce =" inquired
( Ben, with surprise. Yes, all that for three
pence" replied the baker, with fine yankee
snap Of the eye, "nll that for only three
pence" Then measuring Ben from head to
foot he said, with sly. quizzing sort OF an
air pray, now, my little man, where may
you have come from p From Boston" re-
piled Ben. plague on';." replied the man
Of dough, land why didn't you tell me that
at first for You know YOU couldn't have got
all that bread in Yankeetown for less than
good fourpence." Very cheap" said Ben,
'three large rolls for threepeuce quite dag
cheap" So taking them up, he began to
stow them away in his pockets. bnt soon
found it impossible for the want Of room;
so, placing roll under each arm and break
ing the third, he began to eat as he walked
along up Market street.
On the way he passed the house Of that
beautiful girl, Miss Deborah Reed, who,
happened 10 be at the door, was so diverted
at the droll figure lie made, that she could
not help laughing outright. Very little idea
had she. at the time. that she was presently
TO be up to her eyes in love with this young
gawky. and, after many n deep sigh and
heariacle, was to marry him and yet all
this actually came to pass, rs we shall pres
emily see. and We hope greatly to the com
fort of all virtuUus young men who, though
they may be sometimes laughed at for their
oddities yet, if like Franklin, they will but
stick TO the main chdnce--EUsiNEss and Ed
ucArIoN. they will, ussuredly, like linn. over
come AT the last, and render themselves the
admiration Of those who once despised
them.
But our hero is in too interesting part
Of the story for US TO lose n moments sight
Of him: So after this short moral, We turn
our eyes on him again. as,,t 'nno 'entine' anu
MS 6HnGl%d turning the corners ol ,ne s',ee'S,
10 noes on without KnoWlng T"i' Wy bono,,,o
Fn"0t we)l-dressei people, all going the
same way. lie therefore cnt in and follow.
, ing the line Of march, was thus nsensihly led
to a Urge Quaker meeting. Sans ceremonie
be pushed in and sat down with the rest,
: and looking round him. soon felt the motions,
if not of a devOut, yet Of !easant!y
: thoughtful spirit. 1t came 10 lis recollection
! TO have heard that people must 60 abroad to
see strange things. And here it seemed to
be verified. What, no pulpit Who ever
saw meeting house before without pulpit!
=, lie could not Tor his life conceive where the
, preacher WAS to stand. But his attention
! was quickly turned from the meeting houS(
- to the congregation, whose appearance, par
: tculgriy that Of the young females, delighted
= him exceedingly. Such simplicity Of dress
: with snch an air Of purity aud nealness. IL
i had reyer seen any thing Ike it before. ant
. vet all admirably suited to the gentle harmo
!, nv of their looks Ana then their eyes 10
y mcekncss and sweetness Of expression, the.
y. looked like doves eyes. W lille lndu'giui
y these and sGch Ike soothing sentiment;
~ without any sound Of singing or preaching
= 10 disturb him, and tired natures soiteS
- anguur stealing over him, he sunk inscnslbi
a into .lerp. We are not informed that he va
;. visited during slumIers by any of those he
: nevoeut spirits who once descended IN tn
!, dreams Of the youthful patriarch as he slep
', in the plains of Bethel. But he tells us hin
self that he was visited by one 0! that hi
- ueyolcnt sect in whose place Of worship b
~ had been overtlkcn by sleep. Walked b
IL some gentle hand, he opened his eyes, on
" 10, famale countenance, about middle ag
= and of enchanting sweetness. was smiling
e him. Reused to a recollection of the impr'
~ priety be had been guilty of, he VAS too niue
- confused to speak, but his Redeemed cheed
W told what he felt But he had nothing
. fear. Gently shaking her head, though Will
~ ont a rrown, and with q voice as sweet {
W music. she said to him, "My son, thee ougt
~ not to sleep in meeting" Then giving IN
- the look Of q mother as she went out, 81
bnde him farewell lie followed her as we
as be coula, and left the meeting house niue
mortified at having been caught asleep IN II
or bnt deriving, At the same time, great PIE
as sure from the circumstance which gave occ
de sipn 10 the good Quaker lady 10 give HI
le, "that mohsriy look. IIacasS tyt n tfG'"
BIZ lin.
"a 80 .