Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-19

ciear Wlntry DAY IN the beginning Of 1889,
when an unusually keen frost had made the
Hudson fit for sledge travelling, and down
that crystal highway the whole North and
West were pouring to New York, to see the
meeting of the first American Congress,
and Gen. Washington sworn into the office
Of President.
Among the gathering members franklin
was expected. PHILADELPHIA had elected
him once more, though full of years, as well
as honors the man Of so much work and
fame had begun to feel his energies flag
under the burden of age, and talked Of re-
firing from public life. 1t was known that
Franklin was to come direct from Albany.
here he had been visiting an old friend
The sledges were to stop at BrookIa for
the accommodation Of passengers. There
was yet day to spare befure the meeting
of Congress, and Mr. Small was not only
most forward in the crowd which assem-
bled to meet the philosopher, but. by dint
of influential introduction and hospitabIe
importantly, eontrived to make him accept
an invitation TO spend that evening MT his
house. and proceed to New York early on
the f0ifowing day.
The entire elite Of Mr. Small's circle were
gathered to dinner in the evening. The
u
semtling that ofthe Roman conqueroT, with
spoils and captives following his chariot
The quiet, sensible old gentleman who had
signed the Peace Of Paris, and won him q
name throughout the world, was at times
half amused and half provoked at the
boundless fuss made about him; but BEN
jamin Franklin was accustomed 10 such
doings; he let things take their course, and
the dinner went eff as other show-dinners
have before and since, till the gentlemen
juined the ladies in the drawing room. and
Mr.. Small took the opportunity to display
his library, which opened conveniently
from that apartment. The best of his books
had been brought with him when he re-
tired from business, and but few collections
in the United States could equal his at the
time
Franklin admired the books and their
bindings, sppaudcd Mr.. SmalPs taste till
that gentleman, being in a flush of enthu
siasm, which the claret had probably
heightened, brought down from its high
Ilace in his bookcase, the long treasured
pamphlet, named, in the fashion of its puh
fishing time: A Dissertation on Liberty
and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain :" and
introduced it to the doctors notice with n
half century it had been in his possession.
and how much he priced it above his entire
library.
1t IS London edition." said franklin.
turning the rough pages with an absent
look Perhaps he was thinking of the time
when Sir William Keith sent him TO Eng
land. with every mariner of promise, not
OF Of which was kept; and he, an Ameri.
Ia
great and busy London, worked as Jour
neyman printer in Bartholomew Close, say
ing money to pay his passage home, and
writing the Dissertation after business
hours. There were Iut few printed lie
continued; mot above two hundred
was not aware that any had been sold in
New York"
1t was never sold, DOCTOR" said Mr.
Small, catching at the glorious opportunity
to tell his story, for which he put himself
m the accustomed attitude by thrustirg his
hands deep into the pockets of his buck
skins and sitting exceedingly upright
1t Is almost sixty years since that work
came into the possession, NAV say, of nv
family. We lived in the Old Slip then-it
was reckoned highly respectable place of
business. was very young, but had
iO"' 'SA I" a0oioI my IdtHcT III the store he
was prudent man. doctor, ard never al
lowe much play. Our store man had gone
OF in pet because my father would not
increase his salary; and it was not easv 70
Ri his place, for he had been seven wears
with US, and good store-men were not plen
tier at that time than they are now. We
talked to our friends on the subject with
out success.
At last my father advertised in the
American News Letter, the only paper New
York had it came out every Saturday:
and on the following Monday-a wet, cold
evening 1t was-Jnst when we were going
to shut up, and my mother was LAYING SIM
per us in the back parlor-ltt me see
think II was pumpkin pie we had, doctor
my mother weat ahead in housekeeping
l" walked very shabby looking ung
man, quite below anything we could think
Of employing His hat had no cock, his
hair locked as If 1t had never been cued. he
had nota morsel OF ruffie. in one hand he
carried penny roll, and under the other
| arm two books. All these he laid Down on
the counter in decidedly vulgar manner
told my father lie had seen his advertise
ment N the News Letter, and came to ap-
| ply for the situation.
| n
person who carried penny roll and showed
u" rufies; but he asked the young man if
| he had ever been in a book store, and if he
| could show a testimonial of character from
any man Of station in New York. These
| questions seemed rather 70 wake him up 10
| the knowledge OF his own presumption.-
he said, with good deal Of stammering
! that he had never served in store of any
! ~ hn ~ i
would endeavor to learn the business that
he was stranger in New York and knew
nobody, but there were respectable people
in Boston who would recommend him.
my father could not bel p smiling at his
| ignorance Of the world. He advised him
to gp home to Boston and get situation
there, for he would receive no man into his
store who could not produce testimonials
and did not understand the book business
| supposed the young man was ashamed of
his adventure; he picked uu tie emmy
roll and the largest of the books he hac lain
down, and, 10 his COT fusion, forgot the
smaller one, which we did not notice till he
was out of sight-snd it proved to be this
inestimable pamphlet"
" Did you ever see the Young man
again p asked franklin, who had listened
t. the narration with his usual grave and
placid look.
Never, doctor, he probably went home
to his respectable friends in Boston, and
had no use for the book he forgot. Indeed,
the wonder is how it ever came into such a
porsOn's hands"
Would you know him if you saw him
now" said franklin, half smiling.
p" cant say should, doctor, it is almost
sixty years ago; l was boy not above if
! teen"
1t Is sixty years ago, but remember
1T well, my friend; for am the very man
who came to your fathers store that cold
wet evening"" sa d Franklin. Il had re-
turned from England poor and disap>
/ pointed, but unwilling to go back to Kei,b's
printing Office IN Philadelphia, which had