The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02
DIR. FRANKLIN'S WIFE
PY JAMES PARTON.

ON a fine Sunday morning in Octo,
Der, 1928, Deborah Read, beautiful
and blooming lass of eighteen, stood
at the door of her fathers house in
Market Street Philadelphia.
The city was forty-three years OF
age, and it contained a population Of
seven thousand. Many trees of the
original forest still stood upon its site
the houses were built at some dis
tance apart, with gardens between
them, as yet the streets were unpaved.
1t is large tranquil Quaker village,
surrounded by the primeval wilder
ness, with groups of Indians frequent
ly TO be seen in the streets, and such
game as wolves, bears, wild turkey
and deer to be shot within four miles
of the town. As the young lady
stood at the door Of her bome-it was
about church time in the morning
she saw in crowd of church going
people strange figure that both anus
ed and surprised her. 1t was stout
lad Of seventeen, not Unlocking, but
dressed in the very extreme of shah
biness. He wore the working clothes
of an ordinary apprentice, and these
by exposure to the rain and wear and
tear Of travel, bad become dirty and
dilapidated. The pockets of his coat
We're stuffed out with shirts and stock.
iGga, and under each arm he had a
large roll whilo eating a third. She
gazed at him as long as she could see
him wondering and laughing at his
ridiculous appearance Ifshe had any
thoughts upon the subject, she proba-
ably set him down as a runaway ap-
prentice, for such indeed he was, one
BeDjaMin Franklin, who had made
his way from Boston by sloop, by
barge and on foot, to escape the tyr
any of bis brother, to whom he had
been apprenticed.
A few days passed Miss Reed
learned from her father that a young
man was coming to board with them,
a printer who worked in one of the
two printing houses of the town.
What was her surprise when the
young man arrived, nicely dressed
with clean linen, and very neat in his
person, to recognize the forIorn and
shabby youth who had caught her
eye on 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 intelli-
gence, amiability, and good humor-
one Of these young fellows who make
friends wherever they go, because
they are themselves obliging and
friendly
A yoar glided rapidly by, during
which time the father of the young
lady died, and was buried in Christ
Church burying ground, Philadelphia,
where his gravestone NAV be still
seen and read, his wife a vigorous
and prudent woman, carried on the
house as usual so that it still furnished
a home for the young printer. His for
tunes had frightened during the year.
Tho Governor of the province, who had
accidently become acquainted with
his talents, proposed to set him up in
business as printer, and was going
to send him to London to buy types,
a printing press, and whatever is nee
essary for the business of printer.
With this prospect before him, the
young man was emboldened to speak
TO Mrs Read on momentous subject. !
He had fallen in love with her beauti-
ful daughter. He told her this nigh
II secret, and Of his intended voyage
to London, and of the Governors |
project to establish him in business.
finally.he asked her daughters hand |
in marriage.
Mrs. Read was far from disapprov-
ing the match, but, like prudent
mother as she was, she called the
young mans attention to the fact that
neither he nor her daughter we're yet
nineteen, and that it would be most
Inwise for them to marry just as he
was going on a long voyage, and
lbout to engage in a new business
which might not prove profitable.
How much better to wait till be was
safe home again, and the business
was well established. There was no