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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Secondstreet； and ask'd for bisket； intending such as we had in Boston； but
they； it seems； were not made in Philadelphia。 Then I asked for a three…
penny loaf； and was told they had none such。 So not considering or
knowing the difference of money； and the greater cheapness nor the names
of his bread； I made him give me three…penny worth of any sort。 He gave
me； accordingly； three great puffy rolls。 I was surpriz'd at the quantity； but
took it； and； having no room in my pockets； walk'd off with a roll under
each arm； and eating the other。 Thus I went up Market…street as far as
Fourth…street； passing by the door of Mr。 Read； my future wife's father；
when she； standing at the door； saw me； and thought I made； as I certainly
did； a most awkward； ridiculous appearance。 Then I turned and went down
Chestnut…street and part of Walnut…street； eating my roll all the way； and；
corning round； found myself again at Market…street wharf； near the boat I
came in； to which I went for a draught of the river water； and； being filled
with one of my rolls； gave the other two to a woman and her child that
came down the river in the boat with us； and were waiting to go farther。
Thus refreshed； I walked again up the street； which by this time had
many clean…dressed people in it； who were all walking the same way。 I
joined them； and thereby was led into the great meeting…house of the
Quakers near the market。 I sat down among them； and； after looking round
awhile and hearing nothing said； being very drowsy thro' labor and want
of rest the preceding night； I fell fast asleep； and continued so till the
meeting broke up； when one was kind enough to rouse me。 This was；
therefore； the first house I was in； or slept in； in Philadelphia。
Walking down again toward the river； and； looking in the faces of
people； I met a young Quaker man； whose countenance I lik'd； and；
accosting him； requested he would tell me where a stranger could get
lodging。 We were then near the sign of the Three Mariners。 〃Here；〃 says
he； 〃is one place that entertains strangers； but it is not a reputable house； if
thee wilt walk with me； I'll show thee a better。〃 He brought me to the
Crooked Billet in Water…street。 Here I got a dinner； and； while I was eating
it； several sly questions were asked me； as it seemed to be suspected from
my youth and appearance； that I might be some runaway。
After dinner； my sleepiness return'd； and being shown to a bed； I lay
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down without undressing； and slept till six in the evening； was call'd to
supper； went to bed again very early； and slept soundly till next morning。
Then I made myself as tidy as I could； and went to Andrew Bradford the
printer's。 I found in the shop the old man his father； whom I had seen at
New York； and who； travelling on horseback； had got to Philadelphia
before me。 He introduc'd me to his son； who receiv'd me civilly； gave me a
breakfast； but told me he did not at present want a hand； being lately
suppli'd with one； but there was another printer in town； lately set up； one
Keimer； who； perhaps； might employ me； if not； I should be welcome to
lodge at his house； and he would give me a little work to do now and then
till fuller business should offer。
The old gentleman said he would go with me to the new printer； and
when we found him； 〃Neighbor；〃 says Bradford； 〃I have brought to see
you a young man of your business； perhaps you may want such a one。〃 He
ask'd me a few questions； put a composing stick in my hand to see how I
work'd； and then said he would employ me soon； though he had just then
nothing for me to do； and； taking old Bradford； whom he had never seen
before； to be one of the town's people that had a good will for him； enter'd
into a conversation on his present undertaking and projects； while
Bradford； not discovering that he was the other printer's father； on
Keimer's saying he expected soon to get the greatest part of the business
into his own hands； drew him on by artful questions； and starting little
doubts； to explain all his views； what interests he reli'd on； and in what
manner he intended to proceed。 I； who stood by and heard all； saw
immediately that one of them was a crafty old sophister； and the other a
mere novice。 Bradford left me with Keimer； who was greatly surpris'd
when I told him who the old man was。
Keimer's printing…house； I found； consisted of an old shatter'd press；
and one small； worn…out font of English which he was then using himself；
composing an Elegy on Aquila Rose； before mentioned； an ingenious
young man； of excellent character； much respected in the town； clerk of
the Assembly； and a pretty poet。 Keimer made verses too； but very
indifferently。 He could not be said to write them； for his manner was to
compose them in the types directly out of his head。 So there being no copy；
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but one pair of cases； and the Elegy likely to require all the letter； no one
could help him。 I endeavor'd to put his press （which he had not yet us'd；
and of which he understood nothing） into order fit to be work'd with； and；
promising to come and print off his Elegy as soon as he should have got it
ready； I return'd to Bradford's； who gave me a little job to do for the
present； and there I lodged and dieted； A few days after； Keimer sent for
me to print off the Elegy。 And now he had got another pair of cases； and a
pamphlet to reprint； on which he set me to work。
These two printers I found poorly qualified for their business。
Bradford had not been bred to it； and was very illiterate； and Keimer； tho'
something of a scholar； was a mere compositor； knowing nothing of
presswork。 He had been one of the French prophets； and could act their
enthusiastic agitations。 At this time he did not profess any particular
religion； but something of all on occasion； was very ignorant of the world；
and had； as I afterward found； a good deal of the knave in his composition。
He did not like my lodging at Bradford's while I work'd with him。 He had
a house； indeed； but without furniture； so he could not lodge me； but he
got me a lodging at Mr。 Read's； before mentioned； who was the owner of
his house； and； my chest and clothes being come by this time； I made
rather a more respectable appearance in the eyes of Miss Read than I had
done when she first happen'd to see me eating my roll in the street。
I began now to have some acquaintance among the young people of
the town； that were lovers of reading； with whom I spent my evenings
very pleasantly； and gaining money by my industry and frugality； I lived
very agreeably； forgetting Boston as much as I could； and not desiring that
any there should know where I resided； except my friend Collins； who was
in my secret； and kept it when I wrote to him。 At length； an incident
happened that sent me back again much sooner than I had intended。 I had
a brother…in…law； Robert Holmes； master of a sloop that traded between
Boston and Delaware。 He being at Newcastle； forty miles below
Philadelphia； heard there of me； and wrote me a letter mentioning the
concern of my friends in Boston at my abrupt departure； assuring me of
their good will to me； and that every thing would be accommodated to my
mind if I would return； to which he exhorted me very earnestly。 I wrote an
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
answer to his letter； thank'd him for his advice； but stated my reasons for
quitting Boston fully and in such a light as to convince him I was not so
wrong as he had apprehended。
Sir William Keith； gov