, 1863-06-18
Doctor FranlElin ana his Mother.

| Il was an idea Of DR.. Franklln'a, " not Q set
tied opinion, that q mother might, by kind Of
instinct Of natural affection recognize her chill
dren, even though she had lost the recollection
i town Of Boston, he determined to ascertain BY
experiment whether his theory was correct or
not. H'' - %rE
On bleak and chilly day In the month Of
January, the Doctor, late 10 the afternoon,
knOcked ct the door Of his mothers house, and
asked to speak with Mrs. franklin. He found
the old lady knitting before the paFlor fire. He
Introduced himself and observing that ne under
stood she entertained Travellers requested lodgings
| for the night. K
She eyed him with that cold look Of disapDro-
baton which most people assume who imagine
themselves insulted bV being supposed to exsr-
else an employment which they deem 4 degree
below their real occupation in lie. She assured
him he had been mianfOrmed-shs did not keep
tavern, nor did she keep house 70 entertain
strangers. Il was true, she sdded, that to oblige
some members Of the Legislature, she took
small Lumber Of them into her family during
the session that she had four members ol the
Council and sx Of the II use Of Representatives,
who then boarded with her, and that al her beds
were full. - H'H s
Having said this sho rsSnmed her knitting with
that intense application which said, as .iorcibly
mess, the sooner sou leave the house the better
for you. But on the Doctor Wrapplng bis coat
about him, affecting to shiver. and observing that
the weather was very cold, she pointed 70 chair
and gave him leave to warm hliiiseh
The entrance Of the bOarderS prevented all
further conversation. Coffee vas served, and
he PartOok with the family. To the coffee, 90
cOrding to the good old custom Of the times,
succeeded plate Of pippins, PiEs and . paper
A - -
cheerful semi.clrcle before the fire. e.il 77
Perhaps no man ever possessed colloauial pow
ers ID . more fascinating degree than DR.. Frank
lin, and never was there an occasion on which
be displayed them to better advantage than the
present one. He drew the attention Of the coli.
pany by the solidity Of his modest remarks; in
structing them BY the varied. new and striking
lights To- which be placed his suhjec q and de-
lighted them with apt illustrations and amusing
anecdotes.
y Thus employed, the hours passed merrily along
until Supper was annOOnced sllVss Franklin,
busted with her household alIaiFs, supposed the
intruding stranger had left the house Immediately
after coffee, andh was with displeAsufe she saw
him seAl himself at the table with the freedom
of = member II the family. % $40 al - =
Immediately alleF supper, she called IN elderly
gentleman, member or the Council, in whom
she was accustomed 10 confide, into another
room, complained bitterly Of the rudensss OF The
stranger, told the manner Of his introduction to
her house, and observed that be seemed an out.
landIsh sort Of . man. She thought he bad
something very suspicious In bis appearance, and
she oouclnded by soliciting her friends advies
as 10 the way she could most easily ia herself
Of his presence. The old gentleman assured heF
that the stranger was surely young man Of
good education, and, to al appearances, gentle.
man shat, perhaps, being 10 agreeable company,
he paid no attention to the Ia,engss Of the hour.
He advised her to call the stranger aside and 70
peat her inability to lodge him. She accordingly
sent her maid 70 him, aud with Is much compla.
cency Is she euuld command, she reiterated the
situation Of her family, obs rived that Il grew
late, and mildly intimated be would do well %
seek lodgings.
lhe Doctor replied that he would By no means
incommode the family. but with her leave be
would smoke one more pipe with her boarders,
and then retire.
He returned to the company, filed his pipe,
and with the first Whit bis Conversational pow.
ers returned with double lSFcs He reeo1nted
the hardships endured BY their anceslOFs be ex-
tolled their piety, virtue and devotion 70 religious
freedom. The subject Of tho days debate IN the
House Of Representatives was mentioned BY one
Of the members A bin had been introduced to
extend the pFeFogatives Of the royal governor.
The Doctor immediately EtjOined 10 the discus.
sion, supporting the colonial rights with nsw and
E1rciblc Arguments, was familiar with the names
Of the House when Dudley was governor, reeited
Of the charter of rights. % Fit.3 9'll al'fF'
During discourse % Appropriately interest
ing 10 the delighted company, no wonder the
clock struck eleven unpeTceived BY them. Nor
Wus L wonder the patience Of Mrs. Franklin
became entirely exhausted. She now entered