The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-06-06
DIR. FRANKLIN'S WIFE.

On fine Sunday morning in 1923,
Deborah Read, beautiful and blooming
lass of eighteen, stood Mt the door of
her fathers house on Market street,
Philadelphia. The city was but forty
three years of age, and it contained a
population of seven thousand. Many
trees of the original forest stood still
upon it's side the houses were built at
some distance apart, with gardens be-
tween them, and as yet the streets were
unpaved. It,, was large, tranquil
Quaker village, surrounded bya primeval
wilderness, with groups of Indians fire.
quently to be seen in the streets, and
such game as wolves, bears, wild turkeys
and deer, to be shot within four or five
miles of the town.
As the young lady stood at the door of
her house-it was about church time in
the morning-she saw among the crowd
of church-going people strange figure
that both amused and surprised her. 1t
was stout lad of seventeen, not i'll
looking, but dressed in the very extreme
of shabbiness. He wore the working
clothes of an ordinary apprentice, and
these, by exposure to rain and the wear
and tear of travel, had become worn and
dilapidated. The pockets of his coat
were stuffed out with shirts, and under
each arm he had large roll, and was
eating a third. She gazed at him as
long as she could see, wondering and
laughing at his ridiculous appearance.
If she had any thoughts upon the sub
iect, she probably set him down as a
runaway apprentice; for such indeed he
was one Benjamin Franklin, who had
made his way from Boston by sloop, by
barge, and on foot, TO escape the tyranny
of his brother. to whom he had been
apprenticed.
A few days passed. Miss Read learned
from her father that young man was
coming TO board with them printer,
who worked in one of the two printing
houses in the town. What was her sur
prise when the young man arrived nicely
dressed, with clean linen, and very neat
in his person, to recognize the forlorn
and shabby youth who had caught her
eye that Sunday morning. His chest
had arrived by sea, and thus he was able
to present himself at his new abode in n
becoming costume. The young man
proved highly agreeable to the family.
He was full of intelligence, amiability
and good humor-one of those fellows
who make friends wherever they go, be-
cause they are themselves obliging and
friendly.
A year glided rapidly by, during
which the father of the young lady died,
and was buried in Christ Church bury
ing ground, Philadelphia, where his
grave stone may be seen and read to this
day. His wife, vigorous and prudent
woman, carried on the house as usual,
so that it still furnished "A home to the
young printer. His fortunes had bright
ened during the year. The Governor of
the Province, who had accidentally be-
come acquainted with his talents, pro-
posed to set him up in business as a
printer, and was going to send him to
London to buy type, a printing press,
and whatever is necessary for the busl-
ness of a printer. With this prospect
before him, the young man was en-
boldened to speak to Mrs Read on n
momentous subject. He had fallen in
love with her beautiful daughter. He
told her this mighty secret, and of his
intended voyage to London, and of the
Governors project III establishing him
in business Finally he asked her
daughters hand in marriage.
Mrs. Read was far from disappearing
the match, but, like a prudent mother
as she was, she called the young mans
attention to the fact that neither he nor
her daughter were yet nineteen, and it
would be most unwise for them to marry
just as he was going on long voyage,
and about to engage in a new business
which might not prove profitable. How
much better to wait until he was safe
home again, and the business was well
established. There was no denying
this, and he was obliged to submit
Having thus arranged the matter with
the mother he spoke to the daughter,
who confessed with her tongue what her
eyes had often avowed, that she loved
him, and she promised to marry him on
his return.
He set sail, and reached London in
due time There he discovered that the
Governor had deceived and wronged
HIM most cruelty. Instead of letters of
credit he had given him mere letters of
introduction, which were absolutely
worthless. The consequence was that
TINS young printer of nineteen found
himself in London, with ten pounds in
has pocket, and not friend In Europe
who could be of the slightest help to
him. TO complete his misfortunes. one
OF his Philadelphia friends vino had
crossed the Atlantic with him. and who