Year: 1863

ner of his introduction to her house, and
observed that he seemed an outlandish sort
Of a man. She thought he had something
very suspicious in his appearance, and she
concluded by soliciting her friends advice
as to the way she could most easily rid her.
self of his presence. The old gentleman
assured her. that the stranger was surely
young man of good education, and, to all
appearances, gentleman-that, perhaps,
being in agreeable company, he paid no
attention to the lateness 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 complacency as she could com
mand, she recapitulated the situation 'of
her family, observed that it grew late, and
mildly ihtimated he would do we'll to seek
lodgings.


The Doctor replied that he would by no
means incommode the family, but with her
leave he woulhsmoke one more pipe with
her boarders, and then retire.


He returned to the company, filled his
pipe, and with the first Whit his conversa-
tion powers returned with double force.
He recounted the hardships endured by
their ancestors7.he extolled their piety,
virtue and devotion to religious freedom.
The subject of the days debate in tle
House of Representative was mentioned
by one of the members. A bill had been
introduced to extend the prerogative of the
royal Governor. The Doctor Immediately
Joined In the discussion, supported the
aoloo,ol MIL, ,aour on1 fornib1a
guments, was familiar with the names of
the influential men in the House when
Dudley was Governor, recited theirs speeches
and applauded their noble defence Of the
charter of rights.


During discourse so appropriately in
teresting to the delighted company, no
wonder the clock struck unpreceived by
them. Nor was it wonder that the pa
tience ofeMrs. Franklin became entirely
exhausted She now entered the room and
addressed the Doctor before the whole
company, with warmth glowing with
determination to be her own protectress.
She told him plainly that she thought her
self imposed upon, but that she had friends
who would defend her, and insisted that he
should Immediately leave the house.


The Doctor made slight apology and
deliberately put on his great-coat and hat
took leave Of the company and approached
the door, attended by the mistress and
lighted by the maid.


While the Doctor and his companions
had been enjoying themselves within, a
most tremendous storm of wind and rain
had occurred, and no sooner had the maid
lifted the latch than roaring northeaster
forced open the door, extinguishing the
light, and almost filed the entry with
drifted snow and hail AS soon as the
candle was relighted, the Doctor cast woe
full look toward the door, and thus ad-
dressed his mother:


My dear madam, can you turn me out
in this storm l am a stranger in this
town and will perish in the street. You
look like charitable lady-I should not
think that you could turn a dog from your
house this cold and stormy night"


"Don't talk 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 condnct,
and fear you have some 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 lodge in the house, and as no bed
could be had he consented to rest in an
/ easy chair before the parlOr fire.


Though the boarders appeared to confde
L 4l,o honactu IL mae not cn
with Mrs. Franklin. With suspicious
caution she collected her silver spoons,
pepper-box and porringer, from her closets,
and after securing her parlor door by stick
ing fork over the latch, carried the valu-
ables to her chamber, charging the negro
man to sleep with his clothes on, to take
the great cleaver to bed with him, and to
waken and seize the vagrant at the first
noise he should make in attempting to
plunder.


Mrs Franklin rose before the sun,
reused the domestics and was quite agreea-
bly, surprised to find her guest quietly
sleeping in his chair. She awoke him with
a cheerful good morning, inquired how he
rested, and invited him to partake of her
breakfast, which was always served pre-
vious to that of her boarders.


"And pray, sir,' said Mrs. Franklin,
" as you appear to be stranger in Boston,
to what distant country do you belong?


-"I 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.


Philadelphia |" said she, while the
earnest anxiety of mother sufused her
eye, "'why, if you live in Philadelphia,
perhaps you know my Ben ?"


"WRo, madam ?"


Ben Franklin. My dear Ben. Oh !!
how would give the world to see him !
He is the dearest son that ever blessed a
mother"


."What is Ben Franklin, the printer,
your son? Why, he is my most intimate
friend-He and 1 worked together and
lodged in the same room"


ooh heaven forgive me' exclaimed
the lady, raising her fearful eyes "and |
have suffered a friend of NV son Ron IN