Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-04-09

SOmPoay hhS R~stNst ~eN - N-~--
united interference the stsnger was per-
mitted to lodge in the house. and as no
bed could be had, be consented to rest in
tho easy chair before the psrlor FIRE.
Though the boardsrs appeared to con-
fide in the strangers honesty, it was NOT
20 with Mrs. Franklin. With suspicious
canton shc collected her silver spoons.
peppsr-box and porringer, from her
closets. and after securing her parlor door
by sticking fork over the latch. carried
the valusbles tj her cah ME, chngins the
negro man to sleep with his rlothe. on, TO
take the great clesver to bed with him.
and to waksn and seize the vagrant at the
frs. noise he should make in attempting to
plunder. dA E " nW
Mrs. franklin rose before the sun, rous
ed her domestics. and was quite agreeably
surprised to find her terrible guest quietly
sleeping in her chair. She awoke him with
cheerful good morning, inquired how ne
rested, and invited him to partake of her
breakfast, which was always served previ-
Gus to that of her boarders.
"And pray. SIR" said Mrs. franklin.
'as Jon appear to be astranger in Bosten.
to what distant country do you belong?"
Il belong. madam, to the colony Of
Pennsylvania, and reside in Philadelphia.
At the mention of Philadelphia, tho
Doctor declared that he for the first time
perceived something like emotion in her.
"Philadelphia!'' said she, while the earn
est anxiety of a mother suffused her eye.
"why. if you live in Philadelphia. perhaps
you know my Benz
"Who madam"
"Ben Franklin. My dear Ben. OIL
how would give the world to see him!-
He is the dearest son that ever blessed
mother"
What! is Ben franklin the printer,
your son! Why. he is my most intimate
friend. He and worked together and
lodged in the same room" tcr3
"Oh! heaven forgive mel" exclaimed the
lady, raising her fearful eyes, "ani / have
suffered friend of my son Ben to sleep
upon this hard chair. while 1 myself rest
ed on Q soft bed! Z"
Mrs. Fraklin then told her unknown
guest that though ho had been absent from
her ever since he was a child. she could
not fail to know him among a thousand
strange faces, for there was a natural feel
ing in the breast Of every mother, which
she knew would enable her. without pos
sibility of q mistake to recognize her son
in any disguise he might assume.
Franklin doubted and took leave to dis
pute his mothers proposition on the pow
or o. natural feeling. He said he had tried
the natural feeling" in his own mother,
and found it deficient in the power she as
cribed to it.
"And did your mother, inquired she
mot know you? or il she did not seem to
know you. was not her kindness to you an
evidence that zsbe saw somsthing in your
appearance ~i:..ua was dear to her. SO that
she could not resist treating you with par
ticular tenderness and affection?" a.
mo. indeed replied Franklin, she
neither knew me, nor did she treat me with
the least symptom of kindness. She would
have turned me ont of doors but for the in
terposition of strangers. She could hardly
be persuaded to let me sit at her table
/ knew was in my mothers house. and
had . claim on her hospitality: and there
fore you may suppose when she peremp-
I1c ~ lc3Nc tuc uOuScs
Iva. in no hurry to obey"
Surely" interrupted his mother, "she
could not have treated you so unmothsrly
without some cause" f rtI
Il gave her none," replied the Doctor
"She would tell you herself had always
been dutiful son-that she doated upon
me, and when came to her house rs Q
stranger, my behavior was scrupulously
correct and respectful. 1t was a stormy
night and had been absent 60 long that I
had become stranger in the place. l told
my mother this. and yet. so little was she
influenced by the natural feeling" Of
which you speak, that she absolutely re-
fused me bed. and. would hardly suffer
what she called my presumption in taking
seat at the table But this was not the
worst, for no sooner was supper ended
than my good mother told me. with an air
Of solemn earnestness that / must leave
the house"
franklin then proceeded to deccribe the
scene at the front door-the snow drift that
came so opportunely into the entry-his
appeal to her "natural feeling" of q
mother--her unnatural and unfeeling re-
lection his prayer--and finally, her very
reluctant compliance with the solicitations
Of other persons in his behalf--that he
might be permitted to sleep in a chair.
Every word in his touching recital went
home to the heart of Mrs. Franklin, who
could not fail to.perceive that it was true
narrative of the events of the preceding
night in her own house; and while she en-
deavorsd to escape from the self-reproach
that she had acted the part OF an unfeeling
mother. she could not easily resist the con-
viction that the stranger, who became
more and more interesting to her as he pro Z.
ceeded in his discourse, was indeed her
own son. But when she observed the
tender sxpressiveness of his eyes. as he
feelingly recapitulated the circumstances
under which sha attempted to turn him
shelterlcss into the street, her maternal
conviction overcame all doubt, aud she
threw herself into his arms exclsiming,
1t must bs-it must be my dear Benl's
~ A young man named William A.
Il Il Il -f