The Portland daily press., 1863-03-19
MISCELLANY.
NATURAL AFFECTION.
A STORY OF DIR. FRANKLIN,

IL was an IDEA oil LIT. FRANKLIN ., HOT u
settled opinion, that mother might, by sort
of Instructive natural affection, recognize her
children, even though she had lost the recol.
lection OF their features, and on visit to his
native town OF Boston, he determined to as
certain by experiment whether his theory was
correct or not.
On bleak and chilly day in the month of
January, the Doctor, late In the afternoon,
knocked on the door OF his mothers house,
and asked 10 speak with Mrs. Franklin. He
!. found the old lady knitting before the parlor
fire. He introduced himself, and, observing
that he understood she entertained travellers,
requested lodgings for the night.
She eyed him with that cold look of disap-
probation which most people assume who im-
agiRe themselves insulted by being supposed
to exercise an employment which they deem
degree below their real occupation in life
She assured him he had been misinformed-
she did not keep tavern, nor did she keep q
house To entertain strangers. 1t was true,
she added, that to oblige some members of
the Legislature, she took small number of
them into her family during the session; that
she had four members OF the Council and six
of the House OF Representatives, who then
boarded with her, and that all her beds were
full.
Having said this she resumed her knitting
with that intense application which said, as
forcibly as she could, if YOU have concluded
your business the sooner you leave the better.
But on the Doctors wrapping his cloak about
him, affecting to SILVER, and observing that
the weather was very cold, she pointed to
chair, and gave him leave TO warm himself
The entrance of boarders prevented all fur
Their conversation. Coffee was served, and he
partook with the family. To the coffee, ac-
cording to the good old custom of tie times
succeeded plate OF pippns, pipes, and pa
per OF tobacco, when the whole company
formed cheerful sem-circle before the fire.
Perhaps no man ever possessed eoloquial
powers in more fascinating degree than DIR.
Franklin, and never was there an occasion
on which he displayed them to better advan-
tage than on the present. He drew the at
tention of the company by the soldity of his
modest remarks, istructing them by the va
ried, new and striking lights in which he plac-
ed his subjects, and delighted them with apt
illustration and amusing anecdotes.
Thus employed the hours passed merrily
along until supper was announced, Mrs.
Franklin, busted with her household affairs,
supposed the ntruding stranger had left the
house Immediately after the Coffee and ii was
vita dislike she saw him seat himself at the
table with the freedom Of member of the
family.
Immediately after supper she called an ell
DERBY gentleman, member of the Council in
whom she was accustomed to confide, into
another room. complained bitterly OF the rude
ness OF the stranger, told the manner of his
Introduction TO her house, aud observed that
he seemed an outlandish sort of a man. She
thought he had something verv suspicious In
his appearance, and she concluded by solicit
ing her friends advice as to the way she could
most easily rid herself OF his presence. Tie
old gentleman assured her that the stranger,
was surely young man OF good education,
and, to all appearances gentleman - that,
perhaps, being In agreeable company, he paid
mo attention to the lateness Of the hour. He
advised her to call the stranger aside and re-
peat her inability to lodge him. She Accord
ingy sent her maid to him, and with as much
competency as she could command. she reca-
pituated the situation OF her family, observed
that 1t grew late, and mildly intimated he
would do well to seek lodgings.
The Doctor replied that he would by no
means incommode the family, but with her
leave he would smoke one more pipe with her
boarders, and then retire.
He returned to the company. filed his pipe,
and with the first Whit his conversational
powers returned with double force. He re-
counted the hardships endured by their ances-
tors, he extolled thir piety, virtue and devo-
ton TO religious freedom. The subject of the
days debate in the House OF Representatives
was mentioned by one of the members. A
bill had been introduced to extend the pre-
negative oil the royal Governor. The Doctor
Immediately joined in the discussion. support
ed the colonial rights with new and forcibe ar
guments, was familiar with the names of the
influential men in the House when Dudley
was Governor, recited their speeches, and APP
plauded their noble defence OF the charter Of
rights.
During discourse so appropriately inter-
esting to the delighted company, no wonder
the clock struck unperceived by them. Nor
was 1t a wonder that the patience Of Mrs.
Franklin became entirely exhausted. She now
entered the room and addressed the Doctor be-
fore the whole company with warmth, glow
ing with determination to be her own pro-
tectress. She told him plainly. that she
thought herself 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 de-
liberatey put on his coat and hat; took leave
OF the company, and approached the street
door, attended by the mistress and lighted by
the maid.
While the Doctor and companions had been
enjoying themselves within, a most tremendous
storm of wind aud rain had occurred, and no
sooner had the maid lifted the latch than a
roaring northeaster forced open the door, ex-
tinguished the light, and almost filed the entry
with drifted snow and hail. As soon as the
candle was relighted, the Doctor cast wofu
look toward the door and thus addressed his
mother:
my dear madam, can you turn me out in
this storm? / am stranger in this town and
shall perish In the street. You look like char
table LADY, should not think that you could
turn dog from your house this cold, stormy
nightr
Don't talk of charityir replied bis mother,
charity begins at home. 1t is your own fault,
not mine, that you have tarried so long. To
be plain with you, sir. do not like either your
looks or conduct, and fear you have some bad
design in thus intruding into my family
The wrath of this parley had drawn the
company from the parlor, and by their united
interference the stranger was permitted TO
lodge in the house, and as no bed could be
had, he consented TO rest in the easy chair be-
fore the parlor fire.
Though the boarders seemed to confide in
the strangers honesty, ii was not SO with Mrs.
FRANKLIN. With suspicious caution she collect
ed her silver spoons, pepper-box and porting
er, RON her closets. and after securing her
parlor door by sticking fork over the latch,
carried the valuables TO her chamber, charging
the negro man 10 sleep with his clothes on, TO
lake the great cleayer To bed with him. and TO
waken and seize the vagrant at he first noise
he should make in attempting to plumber.
Mrs. Franklin rose before the sun. reused
the dolnestics, and was agreeably surprised
to find her terrifying guest quietly sleeping In
her chair. She awoke him with a cheerful
good morning, inquired how he rested and
invited him to partake of her breakfast, which
was always served previous TO that of her
boarders.