按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
with his bread and cheese； a pint between breakfast and dinner； a pint at
dinner； a pint in the afternoon about six o'clock； and another when he had
done his day's work。 I thought it a detestable custom； but it was necessary；
he suppos'd； to drink strong beer； that he might be strong to labor。 I
endeavored to convince him that the bodily strength afforded by beer
could only be in proportion to the grain or flour of the barley dissolved in
the water of which it was made； that there was more flour in a pennyworth
of bread； and therefore； if he would eat that with a pint of water； it would
give him more strength than a quart of beer。 He drank on； however； and
had four or five shillings to pay out of his wages every Saturday night for
43
… Page 44…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
that muddling liquor； an expense I was free from。 And thus these poor
devils keep themselves always under。
Watts； after some weeks； desiring to have me in the composing…room； I
left the pressmen； a new bien venu or sum for drink； being five shillings；
was demanded of me by the compositors。 I thought it an imposition； as I
had paid below； the master thought so too； and forbad my paying it。 I
stood out two or three weeks； was accordingly considered as an
excommunicate； and bad so many little pieces of private mischief done me；
by mixing my sorts； transposing my pages； breaking my matter； etc。； etc。；
if I were ever so little out of the room； and all ascribed to the chappel
ghost； which they said ever haunted those not regularly admitted； that；
notwithstanding the master's protection； I found myself oblig'd to comply
and pay the money； convinc'd of the folly of being on ill terms with those
one is to live with continually。
I was now on a fair footing with them； and soon acquir'd considerable
influence。 I propos'd some reasonable alterations in their chappel laws；
and carried them against all opposition。 From my example； a great part of
them left their muddling breakfast of beer； and bread； and cheese； finding
they could with me be suppli'd from a neighboring house with a large
porringer of hot water…gruel； sprinkled with pepper； crumbl'd with bread；
and a bit of butter in it； for the price of a pint of beer； viz。； three half…pence。
This was a more comfortable as well as cheaper breakfast； and kept their
heads clearer。 Those who continued sotting with beer all day； were often；
by not paying； out of credit at the alehouse； and us'd to make interest with
me to get beer； their light； as they phrased it； being out。 I watch'd the pay…
table on Saturday night； and collected what I stood engag'd for them；
having to pay sometimes near thirty shillings a week on their account。
This； and my being esteem'd a pretty good riggite； that is； a jocular verbal
satirist； supported my consequence in the society。 My constant attendance
（I never making a St。 Monday） recommended me to the master； and my
uncommon quickness at composing occasioned my being put upon all
work of dispatch； which was generally better paid。 So I went on now very
agreeably。
〃A printing…house is always called a chapel by the workmen； the
44
… Page 45…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
origin of which appears to have been that printing was first carried on in
England in an ancient chapel converted into a printing…house； and the title
has been preserved by tradition。 The bien venu among the printers answers
to the terms entrance and footing among mechanics； thus a journeyman；
on entering a printing…house； was accustomed to pay one or more gallons
of beer for the good of the chapel； this custom was falling into disuse
thirty years ago； it is very properly rejected entirely in the United States。〃…
…W。 T。 F。
My lodging in Little Britain being too remote； I found another in
Duke…street； opposite to the Romish Chapel。 It was two pair of stairs
backwards； at an Italian warehouse。 A widow lady kept the house； she had
a daughter； and a maid servant； and a journeyman who attended the
warehouse； but lodg'd abroad。 After sending to inquire my character at the
house where I last lodg'd she agreed to take me in at the same rate； 3s。 6d。
per week； cheaper； as she said； from the protection she expected in having
a man lodge in the house。 She was a widow； an elderly woman； had been
bred a Protestant； being a clergyman's daughter； but was converted to the
Catholic religion by her husband； whose memory she much revered； had
lived much among people of distinction； and knew a thousand anecdotes
of them as far back as the times of Charles the Second。 She was lame in
her knees with the gout； and； therefore； seldom stirred out of her room； so
sometimes wanted company； and hers was so highly amusing to me； that I
was sure to spend an evening with her whenever she desired it。 Our supper
was only half an anchovy each； on a very little strip of bread and butter；
and half a pint of ale between us； but the entertainment was in her
conversation。 My always keeping good hours； and giving little trouble in
the family； made her unwilling to part with me； so that； when I talk'd of a
lodging I had heard of；nearer my business； for two shillings a week； which；
intent as I now was on saving money； made some difference； she bid me
not think of it； for she would abate me two shillings a week for the future；
so I remained with her at one shilling and sixpence as long as I staid in
London。
In a garret of her house there lived a maiden lady of seventy； in the
most retired manner； of whom my landlady gave me this account： that she
45
… Page 46…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
was a Roman Catholic； had been sent abroad when young； and lodg'd in a
nunnery with an intent of becoming a nun； but； the country not agreeing
with her； she returned to England； where； there being no nunnery； she had
vow'd to lead the life of a nun； as near as might be done in those
circumstances。 Accordingly； she had given all her estate to charitable uses；
reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on； and out of this sum she still
gave a great deal in charity； living herself on water…gruel only； and using
no fire but to boil it。 She had lived many years in that garret； being
permitted to remain there gratis by successive Catholic tenants of the
house below； as they deemed it a blessing to have her there。 A priest
visited her to confess her every day。 〃I have ask'd her；〃 says my landlady；
〃how she； as she liv'd； could possibly find so much employment for a
confessor？〃 〃Oh；〃 said she； 〃it is impossible to avoid vain thoughts。〃 I was
permitted once to visit her； She was chearful and polite； and convers'd
pleasantly。 The room was clean； but had no other furniture than a matras； a
table with a crucifix and book； a stool which she gave me to sit on； and a
picture over the chimney of Saint Veronica displaying her handkerchief；
with the miraculous figure of Christ's bleeding face on it； which she
explained to me with great seriousness。 She look'd pale； but was never
sick； and I give it as another instance on how small an income life and
health may be supported。
At Watts's printing…house I contracted an acquaintance with an
ingenious young man； one Wygate； who； having wealthy relations； had
been better educated than most printers； was a tolerable Latinist； spoke
French； and lov'd reading。 I taught him and a friend of his to swim at twice
going into the river； and they soon became good swimmers。 They
introduc'd me to some gentlemen from the country； who went to Chelsea
by water to see the College and Don Saltero's curiosities。 In our return； at
the request of the company； whose curiosity Wygate had excited； I stripped
and leaped into the river； and swam from near Chelsea to Blackfryar's；
performing on the way many feats of activity； both upon and under water；
that surpris'd and pleas'd those to whom they were novelties