The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-04-28
DR.. Franklin and His Mother

1T was an idea of DR.. Franklin's, if not
Il ! a settled opinion, that mother might,
By a kind of instructive natural affection,
recognize her children, even though she
had lost the recollection of the features.
On a visit to his native town of Boston, he
determined to ascertain by experiment
whether his theory was correct or not.
On bleak chilly day in the month of
January, the Doctor, late in the afternoon,
knocked on the door of his mothers house,
and asked to speak to Mrs. Franklin. He
found the old lady knitting before the
parlor fire. He introduced himself, and
observing that he understood she enter
tanned travellers, requested lodgings for the
night.
She eyed him with that cold look of dis
appreciation which most people assume
who imagine themselves insulted by being
supposed to exercise an employment which
they deem degree below their real ocupa-
tion in life. She assured him that he had
been misinformed-sh did not keep a
tavern, nor did she keep house to enter
tain strangers. 1t was true, she added,
that to oblige some members Of the Legis-
lature, 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. a'
Having said this she resumed her knitting
with that intense application which said,
as forcibly as she could, if you have con-
cluded your business, the sooner you leave
the better. But on the Doctors wrapping
his cloak about him, affecting to shiver, and
observing that the weather was very cold,
she pointed to a chair and gave him leave
to warm himself. T.,t,
The entrance of the boarders prevented
further conversation. Coffee was served,
and he partook with the family. To the
coffee, according to the good old custom of
the times, succeeded plate of pippins,
pies and a paper of tobacco, when the whole
party formeda cheerful semi-circle before
the fire. 'i7e 'le5 te a.
Perhaps no man ever possessed COLO
quial power in more fascinating degree
than DIR. Franklin, and never was there an
occasion on which he displayed them to
better advantage than the present one.
He drew the attention of the company by
the solidity of his modest remarks, instruct
ing them by the new and striking lights in
which he placed his subjects, and delight
ed them with apt illustrations and amusing
anecdotes.
Thus employed, the hours passed mer-
rily along until supper was announced.
Mrs. f., busted with her household affairs,
supposed the intruding stranger had left
the house Immediately after the coffee, and
it was with dislike that 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, member of the council,
in whom she was accustomed to confde,
into another room, complained bitterly OF
the rude appearance Of the man and of his
introduction into her house and observed
that he seemed an outlandish sort of man.
She thought that he had something very
suspicious in his appearance, and she con-
cluded by soliciting her friends advice as
to the way that she could most easily rid
herself of his presence. r..,.,.
The old gentleman assured her that the
stranger was surely young man of good
education, and, to all appearance a gem
tleman--that perhaps, being In agreeable
company he paid no attention to the late
ness of the hour He advised her to call
the stranger aside and repeat her inability
to lodge him, She accordingly sent her
maid to him, and with as much complacen-
cy as she could command, she recapitnlated
the situation Of her family, observing that
it grew late, and mildly, intimating that be
would do well to seek lodgings. ollt n
The Doctor replied that he would by nc
means inoommode the family but with
her leave he would smoke one more pipe
with her boarders and then retire. .qsoi
He returned to the company, filed bis
pipe, and with his first Whit his conver.
sational powers returned With double force
lie reconnted the hardships endured b.
their ancestors, extolled their piety, virtue
and devotion to religious n,edom, Ths
subject Of the days debate In the House d
O. a. d