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were really great advantages； as they were great encouragements。 He
procured for me； also； the printing of the laws and votes of that
government； which continu'd in my hands as long as I follow'd the
business。
I now open'd a little stationer's shop。 I had in it blanks of all sorts； the
correctest that ever appear'd among us； being assisted in that by my friend
Breintnal。 I had also paper； parchment； chapmen's books； etc。 One
Whitemash； a compositor I had known in London； an excellent workman；
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now came to me； and work'd with me constantly and diligently； and I took
an apprentice； the son of Aquila Rose。
I began now gradually to pay off the debt I was under for the printing…
house。 In order to secure my credit and character as a tradesman； I took
care not only to be in reality industrious and frugal； but to avoid all
appearances to the contrary。 I drest plainly； I was seen at no places of idle
diversion。 I never went out a fishing or shooting； a book； indeed；
sometimes debauch'd me from my work； but that was seldom； snug； and
gave no scandal； and； to show that I was not above my business； I
sometimes brought home the paper I purchas'd at the stores thro' the
streets on a wheelbarrow。 Thus being esteem'd an industrious； thriving
young man； and paying duly for what I bought； the merchants who
imported stationery solicited my custom； others proposed supplying me
with books； and I went on swimmingly。 In the mean time； Keimer's credit
and business declining daily； he was at last forc'd to sell his printing house
to satisfy his creditors。 He went to Barbadoes； and there lived some years
in very poor circumstances。
His apprentice； David Harry； whom I had instructed while I work'd
with him； set up in his place at Philadelphia； having bought his materials。 I
was at first apprehensive of a powerful rival in Harry； as his friends were
very able； and had a good deal of interest。 I therefore propos'd a partner…
ship to him which he； fortunately for me； rejected with scorn。 He was very
proud； dress'd like a gentleman； liv'd expensively； took much diversion
and pleasure abroad； ran in debt； and neglected his business； upon which；
all business left him； and； finding nothing to do； he followed Keimer to
Barbadoes； taking the printing…house with him。 There this apprentice
employ'd his former master as a journeyman； they quarrel'd often； Harry
went continually behindhand； and at length was forc'd to sell his types and
return to his country work in Pensilvania。 The person that bought them
employ'd Keimer to use them； but in a few years he died。
There remained now no competitor with me at Philadelphia but the old
one； Bradford； who was rich and easy； did a little printing now and then by
straggling hands； but was not very anxious about the business。 However；
as he kept the post…office； it was imagined he had better opportunities of
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obtaining news； his paper was thought a better distributer of
advertisements than mine； and therefore had many； more； which was a
profitable thing to him； and a disadvantage to me； for； tho' I did indeed
receive and send papers by the post； yet the publick opinion was otherwise；
for what I did send was by bribing the riders； who took them privately；
Bradford being unkind enough to forbid it； which occasion'd some
resentment on my part； and I thought so meanly of him for it； that； when I
afterward came into his situation； I took care never to imitate it。
I had hitherto continu'd to board with Godfrey； who lived in part of my
house with his wife and children； and had one side of the shop for his
glazier's business； tho' he worked little； being always absorbed in his
mathematics。 Mrs。 Godfrey projected a match for me with a relation's
daughter； took opportunities of bringing us often together； till a serious
courtship on my part ensu'd； the girl being in herself very deserving。 The
old folks encourag'd me by continual invitations to supper； and by leaving
us together； till at length it was time to explain。 Mrs。 Godfrey manag'd our
little treaty。 I let her know that I expected as much money with their
daughter as would pay off my remaining debt for the printing…house；
which I believe was not then above a hundred pounds。 She brought me
word they had no such sum to spare； I said they might mortgage their
house in the loan…office。 The answer to this； after some days； was； that
they did not approve the match； that； on inquiry of Bradford； they had
been inform'd the printing business was not a profitable one； the types
would soon be worn out； and more wanted； that S。 Keimer and D。 Harry
had failed one after the other； and I should probably soon follow them； and；
therefore； I was forbidden the house； and the daughter shut up。
Whether this was a real change of sentiment or only artifice； on a
supposition of our being too far engaged in affection to retract； and
therefore that we should steal a marriage； which would leave them at
liberty to give or withhold what they pleas'd； I know not； but I suspected
the latter； resented it； and went no more。 Mrs。 Godfrey brought me
afterward some more favorable accounts of their disposition； and would
have drawn me on again； but I declared absolutely my resolution to have
nothing more to do with that family。 This was resented by the Godfreys；
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we differ'd； and they removed； leaving me the whole house； and I resolved
to take no more inmates。
But this affair having turned my thoughts to marriage； I look'd round
me and made overtures of acquaintance in other places； but soon found
that； the business of a printer being generally thought a poor one； I was not
to expect money with a wife； unless with such a one as I should not
otherwise think agreeable。 In the mean time； that hard…to…be…governed
passion of youth hurried me frequently into intrigues with low women that
fell in my way； which were attended with some expense and great
inconvenience； besides a continual risque to my health by a distemper
which of all things I dreaded； though by great good luck I escaped it。 A
friendly correspondence as neighbors and old acquaintances had continued
between me and Mrs。 Read's family； who all had a regard for me from the
time of my first lodging in their house。 I was often invited there and
consulted in their affairs； wherein I sometimes was of service。 I piti'd poor
Miss Read's unfortunate situation； who was generally dejected； seldom
cheerful； and avoided company。 I considered my giddiness and
inconstancy when in London as in a great degree the cause of her
unhappiness； tho' the mother was good enough to think the fault more her
own than mine； as she had prevented our marrying before I went thither；
and persuaded the other match in my absence。 Our mutual affection was
revived； but there were now great objections to our union。 The match was
indeed looked upon as invalid； a preceding wife being said to be living in
England； but this could not easily be prov'd； because of the distance； and；
tho' there was a report of his death； it was not certain。 Then； tho' it should
be true； he had left many debts； which his successor might be call'd upon
to pay。 We ventured； however； over all these difficulties； and I took her to
wife； September 1st； 1730。 None of the inconveniences happened that we
had apprehended； she proved a good and faithful helpmate； assisted