The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02

me without my knowledge, by my
wife, and had cost her the enormous
sum or three and twenty shillings
for which she had no excuse but thai
she thought her husband deserved {
! silver spoon and china bowl as wei
as any of his neighbors.
We have another pleasing glimpse
of Mrs. Franklin in the early years o.
her married life, in an advertisement,
published in Franklin's paper, the
Pennsylvania Gazette" Franklin
advertised everything and this is one
Of his attempts in that way:
Taken out of a pew in the church,
some months since, "A common prayer
book, bound in red gilt, and letters ID.
+. Deborah Franklin on each cover.
The person who took it is desired 10
open il and read the Eighth Com
mandment, and afterwards return it
into the same pew again, of which no
further notice will be taken
The first great sorrow of her mar
ried life was the death Of their first
child most beautiful and intelligent
boy, four years of age So engaging
was he, and so rooted in the hearts Of
his parents, that Franklin declared,
thirty-siX years after, he could never
think of him even without a sigh.
When the reader visits the grave OF
Franklin in Christ Church burying
groud in Philadelphia, ho will observe
nearit alIttle stone, not two feet high,
which Franklin placed over the grave
of his boy. He added to the usual
inscription these words, "The delight
of all who knew him" Their only
child, Sarah, grew 10 womanhood in
heriting and transmitting her moth
er's beauty.
During the last fifteen years of
their married life Franklin spent most
of his time in England, as agent for
the colonies Such was his wife's
dread of the ocean that she never
could be persuaded to accompany
him or visit him. During his ab-
sence she took care of all his affairs.
better in some respects than he could
have done it himself.
BY almost every ship she sent him
American nuts, apples and other pro-
ducts, and he sent her in return all
sorts of rare and beautiful things in
fabric and household furniture, such
as sets of china, articles of siverware.
table cloths, tea trays, blankets, silk
for dresses, and any curious house
hold implement which he thought
might be useful. On one occasion he
sent her large handsome beer jug.
:" | fell in love with it," he told "at
first sight, for | thought that it look
ed like a fat jolly dame, clean and IT,
dy, with neat blue calico gown on.
good natured and lovely, and put me
in mind Of-somebody."
To make the jug more welcome ne
filled it with pretty little coffee cups,
packed in salt
During the Stamp Act trouble of
| 165, when the false report reached
Philadelphia that her husband had
favored the odious measure. the mob
threatened to sack his house.
On this occasion she proved her
self worthy to be the wife of Pennsyl-
yanla's representative, Governor
Franklin entreated her to take refuge
in his own house at Burlington. and !
all friends urged her to go.
For nine davs; she SAYS, people |
kept persuading her to leave her
house. At length she let her daugh-
Ter go to Burlington but for herself
she would not bulge.
" | am sure" said She chat nv
husband has done nothing to hurt
hor have | given offence to
any person at all, nor will be made /
uneasy by anybody. | will not stir,
nor show the least uneasiness. But
4 anybody comes to disturb me,
will show proper resentment"
And, indeed, she armed and forti-
lied her house, stationing her brother
md cousin below with guns, and /
and mounting guard up
stairs herself, prepared to defend her |
abode. The storm blew over, and |
very soon the truth respecting her
husbands conduct was known.
For forty-four years Benjamin 1
Franklin and Deborrh Read were
Inited in marriage
She lived to see her husband the (
of Americans on both con-
lnents. and she lived also to see her
laughter suitably married to a mer-
liant of Philadelphia, Richard Bache, /
Her last years were greatly cheered
~ her beautiful grandchildren.
She had the happiness of escaping
he anxieties o the Revolutionary
War. She died in December I774,
With only one regret, that she could
lot live to see her husband once
gain. Indeed, she had been for ten
'ears. longing and pining for his re-
urn: but the pressing business of
he colonies still detained him, and
he died at last when he was making
for his homeward voy-
Ige. Her body was borne to the
rave by some of Franklin's oldest
riends, men who had known them
When forty-four years before, they
lad begun housekeeping, and ATE
heir breakfast of bread and milk,
There were scarcely any women at
hat period who We're what we now
all educated, and the letters of Mrs.
franklin show that she was not gift
d in the use of the pen
But she was faithful and affec-
lonate wife, friend and helpmeet to
er husband, who was enabled to do
he public service because he had at
ome wife competent and willing to
axe charge of his affairs in his alb
ence
TOp-Dressing Meadows.
In my experience the hast results
an be obtained by applying the man.