Part 35 (2/2)
CHAPTER x.x.xIII.
OLD MR. CALAMITY AGAIN.
FRANKLIN'S paper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, which appeared in the year 1729, at first published by Franklin and Meredith, and always very neatly printed, had grown, and its income became large. It did much of the thinking for the province. But Franklin made it what it was by his energy, perseverance, and faith. He returned to America, and the paper voiced his opinions.
In the period of his early struggle, he was wheeling some printing paper in a wheelbarrow along the streets toward his office when he heard the tap, tap, tap of an old man's cane.
He looked around. It was the cane of old Mr. Calamity. This man had advised him not to begin publis.h.i.+ng.
”Young man----”
”Good morning, sir. I hope it finds you well.”
”It must be hard times when an editor has to carry his printing paper in a wheelbarrow.”
”The oracle said, 'Leave no stone unturned if you would find success.'”
”Well, my young friend, if there is anybody that obeys the oracle in Pennsylvania it is you. You dress plainly; you do not indulge in many luxuries; you attend the societies and clubs that seek information; you ought to succeed, but you won't.”
The old man lifted his cane and brought it down on the flagging stones with a pump.
”You won't, _now_!”
He stood still for a moment to add to the impression of his words.
”What is this I hear? The province is about to issue paper money? What did I tell you long ago? This is an age of rags. Paper money is rags.
Governor Keith's affairs have all gone to ruin; it is unfortunate that he went away. And you are going to print the paper money for the province, are you? Listen to me: in a few years it will not be worth the paper it is printed on, and you will be glad to follow the example of Governor Keith, and get out of Philadelphia. The times are hard, but they are going to be harder. What hope is there for such a man as you?”
Franklin set down his wheelbarrow.
”My good sir, I am doing honest work. It will tell--I have confidence that it will tell.”
”Tell! Tell who?”
”The world.”
”The world! The owls have not yet ceased to hoot in woods around Philadelphia, and he has a small world that is bounded by the hoot of an owl.”
”My father used to say that he who is diligent in his business shall stand before kings,” quoting the Scripture.
”Well, you may be as honest and as diligent in your business as you will, it is a small chance that you will ever have of standing before kings. What are you standing before now?--a wheelbarrow. That is as far as you have got. A promising young man it must be to stand before a wheelbarrow and talk about standing before kings!”
”But, sir, I ought not to be standing before a wheelbarrow. I ought to be going on and coining time.”
”Well, go right along; you are on the way to Poverty Corner, and you will not need any guide post to find it; take up the handles of the wheelbarrow and go right on. Maybe the king will send a coach for you some day.”
He did--more than one king did.
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