The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-04-28

to extend the prerogative Of the royal Gov
ernor. The Doctor Immediately Joined in
the discussion, supported the colonial
rights with new and forcible arguments,
was familiar with the influential men In
the House, when Dudley was Governor, re-
cited their speeches, and applauded their
noble defence Of the charter rights.
During discourse SO appropriately in
teresting to the delighted company no
wonder the clock struck unperceived by
them. Nor was it wonder that the pa
tience Of Mrs. Franklin became entirely
exhausted. She now entered the room and
addressed the Doctor before the whole COM
pany, with warmth glowing Of determ-
ination to be her own protectress. She
told him plainly that she thought herself
imposed upon, but she had friends that
would defend her, and insisted he should
Immediately leave the house.
The doctor made slight apology and de-
liberately put on his great coat and hat
took leave of the company, and approached
the street door, attended by the mistress
and lighted by the maid.
While the Doctor and his companions
had been enjoying themselves within,
most tremendous storm of wind and rain
had occurred, and no sooner had the maid
lifted the latch than roaring northeastern
forced open the door, extinguished the
light, and almost filed the entry with drift
ed snow and hail. AS soon as the candle
was lighted the Doctor cast woful look
towards the door, and thus addressed his
mother:
my dear madam, can you turn me out
in this storm l am stranger in this town
and will perish in the street. You look
like charitable lady-I should not think
that you would turn adog from your house
this cold, stormy night p
"Don't talk to me of charity % replied
his MOTHER "charity begins at home. 1t
is your own fault not mine, that you have
tarried so long. To be plain with you, sir,
/ do not like either your looks Or your con-
duct and fear you have somo bad design
in thus intruding into my family" ..
The wrath of this parley had drawn the
company from the parlor, and by their
united interference the stranger was per-
mitted to stay in the house, and as no bed
could be had, he consented to rest in the
easy chair by the parlor fire.
Though the boarders appeared to conflde
in the strangers honesty, it was not so
with Mrs. Franklin. With suspicious eau
tion she collected her silver spoons, pepper
box and porringer, from her closets, and
after securing the parlor door by sticking
fork above the latch, carried the valuables
to her chamber, charging the negro man
to sleep with his clothes on, to take the
great cleaver to bed with him, and to
awaken and seize the vagrant the first noise
he should make in attempting to plunder.
Mrs. Franklin arose before the sun, rous-
ed the domestics, and was quite agreeably
surprised to find her terrible guest quietly
sleeping in her chair. She awoke him
with cheerful good morning, inquiring
how he rested, and invited him to partake
of her breakfast which was always served
previous to that of her boarders.
| "And pray, sir" said Mrs. Franklin,
Gas you seem to be stranger in Boston,t
what distant country do you belong?"
~ belong, madam, to the colony Of
Pennsylvania, and reside in Philadelphia"
! At the mention of Philadelphia, the
Doctor declared that he for the first time
perceived something like emotion in her.
Philadelphiag' said she, while the earn
| oeH o,xs.isk., ,,ootl,nr e,, I,a,. oraI
"why if You live in Philadelphia perhaps
you know my Benz" ,g....,' r.s.r'.
! "Who, madam ?'' t1.t1il ..tflrt
"Ben Franklin. My dear Ben. Ohl
how would like to see him He is the
dearest son that ever blessed mother"
"What is Ben Franklin, the printer,
your son9 Why he is my most intimate
friend. He and l work together, and
lodge in the same room"
4 "Oh Heaven, forgive mep' exclaimed
the lady, raising her fearful eyes, "and
have l suffered afriend of my son Ben to
sleep upon hard chair, while myself
rested upon q soft bed '.' ~
g Mrs. Franklin then told her unknown
guest though he had been absent from her
ever since he was child, she could not
fail to know him among thousand strange
faces, for there was natural feeling in the
breast Of every mother, which she knew
would enable her-without a possibility Of
a mistake, to recognize her son in any dis
guise he might assume. laG arlygff I'M .s,..
Franklin doubted, and took leave TO