The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-08-22
9utercstin9 9ntiGcnt.
DIR. FRANKLIN AND HIS MOTHER.

| 1t was an idea of Doctor Fraklins, if not
n settled opinion, that mother might, 10y u
| kind of instinct of natural Affection rccog-
nize her children. even though she had lost
the recollection of their features. Aud on
visit to his native town of Boston. he de-
termined to ascertain by experiment
whether this theory~was correct or not.
On bleak aud chilly day in the mouth
of January, the Doctor, late in the after
noon, knocked at the door of his mother 5
house. and asked to speak with Mrs. Frank
lin. lie found the old lady knitting before
| The parlor fire. lie Introduced himself, and
observing that he understood she enter
famed travellers, requested lodging for
| the night.
| She eyed him with that look of 1isappro-
baton which most people assume who
imagine themcelves insulted by being sup
posed to exercise am empl pyment which
| they deem degree below their real occu-
patton in life. She assured him that he
had been misnformcd-s did not keep a
tavern, nor did she keep house TO enter.
tain strangers. II is true, she added, that
TO oblge some members of the Legislature,
she took a-slnal 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 board
ed with her, and that all her beds were
| full
| Having said this, she resumed her knit
ting with that intense application which
said az forcibly as action could, ii you have
concluded your business, the sooner you
| leave the better. But on the Doctors
wrapping his coat about him, affecting TO
shiver, and observing that the weather was
very cold, she pointed him to chair, aud
gave him leave to warm himself.
Tie entrance OF the boardcrs prevented
all further conversation. Coffee was soon
served, aud he partook with the family.
To the coffee, according TO the good old
custom of the times. succeeded plate of
pppms, pies, and plate of tobacco, when
the whole company formed cheerful semi
circle before the fire.
Prehaps no man ever possessed colloquial
powers i'm a more fascinating degree than
! Dr. Franklin, and never was there an ocea.
sion on which he displayed them TO better
advantage than the present one. He drew
| the attention of the company by the solid
! ity Of his modest remarks, instrucling them
! by the varied, new and striking lights in
which he placed his subjects aud delighted
theta with apt illustrations, and amusing
anecdotes
nus tllliAol tNiJ lito iphin l'NnoSh ihNiliil
along. until supper WAS announced. Mrs.
Franklin, busted with her household affairs,
supposed The iutruding stranger had left
Immediately after coffee, and it was with
difficulty she restrained herself while she
saw him seat himself at the table with the
! freedom of a member of the family.
Immediately after supper, she called an
elderly gentleman, a member Of the Coulk
ell, in whom she was accustomed TO confde
in another ROOM complained bitterly Of the
rudeuessof the stranger told the manner Of
his Introduction to her house. and observed
that lac seemed un ouilaudish SORT Of man.
She thought he had something very bus
pcious in his appearance, and she conciul-
cd by soliciting her friends advice as to the
way she could most easily aid herself Of
his presence. Tho oil gentleman assured
her that The stranger was surely young
man Of cducat;ou, and, TO all appearance
genlleman-iha prehaps, being ia agree.
able compuuy, ho paid 10 attention 10 the
iatehess OF ule hour, lie advised her TO
call the stranger aside, and repeat her iia-
blity TO lodge him. She accordingly sent
her maid TO him. and with As much compla.
cency as she could command, she recapitu-
lated the situation Of her family, observed
that il grew late and mildly intimated that
he would do well to seek lodgings.