Part 23 (2/2)

”Want work at your old business, I suppose?” added Keis since you were here; my shop is well supplied with stationery, plenty of new types, and a good business!”

”I see that you have lad that you prosper”

”And I shall be glad to employ you, as none of my men are complete masters of the business”

”But I have relinquished my old trade,” answered Benja business!” interrupted Keieenerally in the capacity of clerk”

”I am sorry for that, and I think you will be eventually It is a very uncertain business”

”Well, I have undertaken it for better or worse,” said Benja down the street, who should he meet but Governor Keith, who had been removed from his office, and was now only a common citizen The ex-Governor appeared both surprised and asha

Benjamin was quite ashamed to meet Miss Read, since he had not been true to his prohteen le letter, and that was penned soon after his arrival in London, to infor absence and silence convinced her that he had ceased to regard her with affection; in consequence of which, at the earnest persuasion of her parents, she ers He turned out to be a miserable fellow, and she lived with him only a short time He incurred heavy debts; ran away to the West Indies to escape from his creditors, and there died

Miss Read (she refused to bear the naers) was disconsolate and sad, and Benjamin pitied her sincerely, inasmuch as he considered himself to blame in the matter He was not disposed to shi+eld himself from the censure of the family, had they been disposed to administer any; but the old lady took all the blaeers

These circu with Miss Read less unpleasant, so far as his oant of fidelity was concerned His intimacy with the family was renewed, and they frequently invited hiht his advice on business of importance

Mr Denham opened a store in Water Street, and Benjah hopes He e of traffic, and soon becaoods But in February, 1727, when Benjae, both he and his employer were prostrated by sickness

Benjamin's disease was pleurisy, and his life was despaired of, though he unexpectedly recovered Mr Denha for so the store and throwing Benjamin out of business It was a sad disappointment, but not wholly unlike the previous checkered experience of his life He had become used to ”ups and downs”

As a token of his confidence and esteeacy to Benja man's faithfulness And here it should be said, that, whatever faults the hero of our story had, he always served his employers with such ability and fidelity as won their approbation and confidence Unlike many youth, who care not for their ees and keep their places, he ever did the best he could for those who employed him He proved himself trustworthy and efficient; and here is found one secret of his success

In his disappointht the advice of his brother-in-law, Captain Homes, who happened to be in Philadelphia at the time

”I advise you to return to your old business,” said he ”I suppose you can readily get work here, can you not?”

”All I want,” Benjamin answered ”Keiland, and I dare say that he would hire ain with him at once, were I in your place

I think you will succeed better at your trade than in any other business, and perhaps the ill soon be prepared for you to open a printing-office of your own”

This advice was folloithout delay, and Keier to ees to take the entire ht attend more closely to his stationer's shop The offer was accepted, and Benjamin commenced his duties in in offering hiht be improved under his experience, when it would not be necessary for hiood workes, when poor ones are obliged to beg their bread

A Keiht for four years He was about eighteen years of age, sent Benjamin very naturally became interested in hi in the capacity of a bought servant; and he received fro brief account of his life He ”was born in Gloucester, educated at a gra the scholars for so his part when they exhibited plays; belonged to the Wits' Club there, and had written some pieces in prose and verse, which were printed in the Gloucester newspapers Thence was sent to Oxford, where he continued about a year, but not well satisfied; wishi+ng, of all things, to see London, and beco his quarterly allowance of fifteen guineas, instead of discharging his debts, he went out of town, hid his gown in a furze-bush, and walked to London; where, having no friend to advise hiuineas, found no rew necessitous, pawned his clothes, and wanted bread Walking the street, very hungry, not knohat to do with hi iement to such as would bind thened the indentures, was put into the shi+p, and ca a line to his friends, to acquaint them as become of him”

Such a case has several i In the first place, it shows the danger that attends theatrical perforood people object to them; but here they may see one reason of their opposition It was at the school in Oxford that he ie There he participated in dramatic plays, which caused him to run away, and seek a residence in London, where he was ruined There are hundreds of siood people to condemn theatrical amusements It is said that when Lord Jeffrey was a youth, at the college in Glasgow, he was instru a dramatic perfornated as a fitting theatre, when the authorities interfered, and forbade them to perform the play

Their interference aroused the ire of Jeffrey, who, in his ”Notes on Lectures,” denounced their conduct as ”the meanest, most illiberal, and despicable” Many youth cherish sis towards those who condemn such perfores, ould point him to the sad end of the Oxford student

This case also illustrates the sad consequences of keeping bad company, as well as the perils of the city He associated with the vicious in London, and becaabond in consequence

As the workmen ian to think of discharging hi his second quarter's wages, he told him that he could not continue to pay him so much He became less civil, frequently found fault, and plainly tried to make Benjath a rare opportunity offered for him to make trouble An unusual noise in the street one day caused Benjamin to put his head out of theto see as thehim, he cried out, ”Put your head in, and attend to your business;” and added some reproachful words which all in the street heard Then, hastening up into the office, he continued his insulting language