Year: 1872

as there was two to be supported. the
ten pounds rapidly melted away, and
Franklin saw no prospect even of his
being able to get back to Philadelphia
at all, still less of appearing there as q
master printer.


I'm these circumstances he should
have written to Miss Read plain state
ment of the case, and asked her to wait
for him, or released her from the en-
gagement. Either he had not the
courage to do this, or else, absorbed by
the wonders and pleasures of the town
he had become Indifferent to her. He
merely wrote her short note, announ-
cling his safe arrival in London, and
telling her he was not likely to return
soon. This was one of the great errors
of his life, which, he said, he could wish
to correct if he were to live it oveI
gain.


Month after month passed, and De
borah Read, anxious, forlorn, heard nc
more from her faithless lover. A new
suitor presented himself, Rogers by
name, who carried on the trade of q
potter. He was an excellent hand al
his business, and for this reason Mrs.
Read favored his suit. Other relations
persuaded her to marry him, and at last
she gave her consent, and the marriage
was celebrated. Soon the dreadful ru-
NOR was noised abroad in Philadelphia,
that Rogers the potter had another
wife. Such strong reasons appeared
for crediting this report, that Deborah
Read, who had lived unhappy with him,
returned to her mother and resumed
her maiden name, sorrOwful and hope
less woman. Her most sanguine friends
could not have fOrseen for her happy
and honorable future. Soon after ROg-
ers, who owed money in all directions,
fled from his creditors to the West In
dies, whence came soon after report
of his death.


Franklin remained in London for
about two years, at the end of which he
returned as clerk to a Philadelphia
merchant, whom he had met by chance
in London. Upon his arrival he re-
newed his intimacy with Mrs. Read and
her daughter, and doubtless explained
his Inconsistency as best he could. He
lamented Deborah Reads unhappy
condition; and, however, he may have
excused his behavior, he felt that she
owed the ruin of her life his to own "gid-
diness and INCONSISTENCY" The mother,
however, insisted that it was she who
was most in fault, because she had urged
on the unhappy marriage, even against
her daughters inclination. She still
consulted Franklin about her affairs,
and they were all excellent friends.


And so passed three or four years; dur
ing which Franklin, through his own in
dustry and good conduct, became a
master printer, and proprietor of Il
newspaper, with the prospect of found
ing an extensive business. Needing
capital he tried to increase his store by
marriage, and when that scheme failed,
he turned his thoughts to his first love,
poor Deborah Read. Her runaway pot
ter was probably dead; but he might
not be; aud she seemed forever cut off
from marriage by the fact, that her Sec
oDd husband would be responsible'fOr
the debts of her first. Such was the
law of the period.


Franklin, plying her forlorn condi-
ton, always reproaehing himself as the
cause of her woe, and not less fond of
her than before, at last, proposed that
they should risk a marriage. Nor was
the match so unequal rs it seemed; for,
bachelor as he was, he had son few
months old upon his hands, which was
set-off against the chances of Rogers
reappearing. In 1890, seven years after
Miss Read had seen Franklin walk up
Market street eating his roll, they were
married. Rogers, as it turned out, was
really dead; nor did any of his credi-
tors apply to Franklin for payment.
The child was taken home and reared as
though it had been born to them in
wedlock. He was well educated, and
afterwards became governor of New
Jersey.


The marriage was eminently success
full in every respect. One Of Franklin's
maXims in Poor Richards Almanac
was this: IA man must ask his wife
to thrive" Nothing more true. In
vain shall young man, without much
capital, toll and deny himself, if he has
wife who squanders his gains, and
takes no interest in his career. Mrs.
Franklin was one of the most indus
trious, careful and friendly of women.
Besides attending her husbands little
shop, she bought rags, stitched PAM
phlets, folded newspapers, tenderly
nurtured his child, and kept her hus-
band from being eXtravagant. He was
by no means of an economical DISPOSE
ton. He was generous to fault, and,
| am sure, was much indebted to his
wife for the rapidity with which he
IL H.. fort Tn, fhn narlt-
of their married life he could some
times boast-and he did boast of it
that he was clothed from head to foot
in garments which his wife had first
woven, and then made.


1t seems, however, that she was not
averse to a reasonable degree of COM
fort and display. Franklin narrates
that Tor a long time after his marriage,
he had nothing for breakfast but bread
and milk, and he used to eat it out of a
two penny earthcn bowl with a pewter
spoon.


But he continued, mark how luxu-
ry will enter families, and make a pro-
gress in spite of principle. Being
called one morning to breakfast, found
it in china bowl with aspoon of silver,
They had been bought for me without
my knowledge by my wife, and had
cost her the enormous sum of three and
twenty shillings; for which she had no
other excuse or apology to make but
that she thought her husband deserved
silver spoon and china bowl as well
as any of his neighbors.