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an impression in his favour, that the merchants, many of them, male him liberal offers of their stationary on credit. But, not wishing to have "too many irons in the fire," he declined their offers, which added to his repu tation of an industrious young man, that of an upright and cautious one. This is mentioned not so much for praise of the dead, as for a hint to the living.

Business began now to make a flood-tide movement in the new printing office, and Ben made such good use of it, and picked up money so fast, that he was in hopes he had nearly thrown all his troubles over the "left shoulder." But in this he was miserably mistaken; for presently, as if there was to be no end to troubles, there leaped out another, more alarming than all before.

Old

Meredith, finding that Ben had not cured his son of his drunken fits, took a miff, and all at once backed out of his promise to pay for their press and printing materials! and the merchant who imported these costly articles, and who had for some time been expecting his money, commenced a suit, and threatened immediate execu tion!

Poor Ben! Imagination sees him, at first, standing like a luckless merchant, who, after two noble ventures swallowed up, now beholds the breakers that are to swallow up his third and last hope. "Yes," thought he, "but a few short weeks and my press and types will be under the hammer; all my delightful hopes annihilated; and myself turned adrift on the wide world again!"

At this perilous moment, when nothing but infamy and ruin stared him in the face, God was pleased to cause his owN VIRTUES to leap forth like armed Minervas, with shield and buckler for his defence. His INDUSTRY and PRUDENCE having, as aforesaid, been trumpeted through the town, the public feelings were greatly excited by his misfortunes, "shame," said they, "that such a young man should fall. As to that drunken fellow, that Meredith, no matter how soon he is stripped and sent to jail. But this Franklin must not fall for want of a little help. It were a disgrace to the town." Accordingly several gentlemen, two at least are recorded, Coleman and Grace, without each others knowledge, called on him, and tendered what

ever sum he should want!-but hoping at the same time he would, if possible, get quit of Meredith, who only served to disgrace and injure him; being often seen at taverns and gambling tables.

A relief so unexpectedly, and in a manner too so flattering, produced on the mind of Ben a satisfaction beyond expression. After making the best acknow'ledgements he could to such noble benefactors, he begged they would allow him a day or two to effect, if possible, an honourable separation from Meredith. Fortunately he found no difficulty in this: for Meredith, heartily sick of the business, readily agreed, for a small consideration, to give him up the printing office to himself. Ben then called on his two friends, accepted the proffered supply, taking exactly one half from each for fear of offending either, and making fall settlement with the Merediths, took the whole business into his own hands.

Ben's extreme alarm from the danger of having his Printing-Office seized, and its fortunate rescue by the amiable Coleman and Grace, has been very briefly narrated. But transient as this event may seem in our narrative, it produced on his feelings a glow of gratitude which kings might envy; and it led to an act which Angels would glory in. The reader shall hear all in good time.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

HAVING now got the Printing-Office in his own hands, Ben began to find the unspeakable advantage of his past labours to acquire ideas, and to convey them handsomely by his pen. The town and country getting at this time prodigiously excited about a PAPER CUR RENCY, Ben came out with a most luminous Pamphlet on "THE ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES of a PAPER CURRENCY." The pamphlet gave such satisfaction to the legislature, that they rewarded him with the printing of all their money bills. His pamphlet producing

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the same effect on the legislature of Delaware, they rewarded him in the same way-as also did both these legislatures by throwing into his way several other jobs of public printing.

Money, now coming in, he went at once, and paid his good friends Coleman and Grace what they had so nobly lent him. With a light heart he then wiped off that old score of VERNON'S, which had given him so much uneasiness, but which now receipted in full, prinoipal and interest, made him feel himself the freest, and therefore the happiest man in Pennsylvania. Money still coming in, he fitted up a few shelves in the front room of his Printing-Office, where he spread out an assortment of Books, Blanks, Paper and Quills; but all in the small way-for he always thought, that though

"Vessels large may venture more

Yet little boats should keep near shore."

Like a ship that after long tacking against winds and tides, through dangerous straits and shallows, has at last got safely out on the main ocean-flood, and at liberty to lay her own course; such was now the condition of Ben; who hereupon felt it his duty immediately to take on board those two grand guides and guardians of his voyage-RELIGION and a GOOD WIFE.

As to religion-the grum looks and bitter sectarian animosities of the christians in those wretched days, had early made a deist of him; and he in turn, had made deists of others, as Collins and Ralph. But on coming to test the thing by its fruits, he found that this new religion (deism) was not yet the religion he could admire. He found that poor Collins, with all his deism, was but a drunkard-Ralph, an ungrateful swindler-governor Keith, a great rascal-and even himself, though a prime deist, yet in his treatment of Miss Read, as culpable as any of them all. This led him to a train of thought which resulted in the conclusion, that though he could not conceive that bud actions are bad, merely because revelation forbids them; nor good actions good, because revelation enjoins them; yet he doubted not but the former were forbidden, because they are hurtful, and the latter en

joined because they are beneficial to us-all things cons sidered. On this grand principle then, the inseparable connexion between VICE and MISERY, and VIRTUE and HAPPINESS, he determined from that day to shun the one, and embrace the other; thus summing up his religion in those beautiful lines:

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So much for his religion. As to his wife, his behaviour in this respect, seems to have shown that there was some substance in the religious ground he had taken. Having, at the time of his sad disappointment in London, and when he despaired of ever marrying ber, neglected his old sweet-heart, Miss Read, he resolved, now that he was getting into better circumstances, to make her all the amends in his power. 'Tis true, her mother, who had prevented the marriage before he set off for England, and during his absence had prevailed on her to marry another lover, was most in fault, and actually acquitted him, laying the blame altogether at her own door-But Ben never acquitted himself; he felt condemned, and would therefore accept no absolution while he could make reparation. He renewed his visits to the family, who were rejoiced to see him. He saw his old sweet-heart, Miss Read; but O how altered from her who, formerly, bright with love and joy, used to fly to the door to welcome his coming! How altered from her, whose rosy cheeks crimsoned with blushes, he so fondly kissed at taking leave for England, with sweetest promises of speedy return and blissful marriage. Pale and wan- were her looks, where she sat silent and retired. and often deeply sighing, like one much troubled in mind, or crossed in hopeless love. She never reminded him of his "troth and broken vows.” But such patient suffering served but the more to harrow up his feelings Each stifled sigh sounded in his ear as a death bell; and each tender glance carried a point keener than the lightning's fork. In a word, his heart was completely torn and he had wisdom to seek its only cure-reconciliation with the injured. "Tis true, pride

whispered that Miss Read. having treated him with great disrespect by marrying in his absence, ought to be punished. But how could he think of revenge on a poor girl, whom his own neglect had driven to that desperate act! Avarice, too, remonstrated against marrying a woman, whose last husband had left debts which he might be ruined to pay. But Ben felt resolved, that as he had rendered this dear woman unhappy, he would restore her peace, whatever might be the cost. As the coming forth of the sun after clouds, such was the shining of conscious virtue on Ben's face, after such noble resolv ing. As a flower after long mourning its absent sun, rejoices again in his returning beams; so the soul of Miss Read rejoiced in the smiles of her returning lover. The hearts of her aged parents revived with the cheerful rose once more blooming on her pallid cheek. And heaven itself shed choicest blessings on their happy

union.

No debts of the former husband were ever exhibited against them. No foe was permitted to triumph, And while old Keimer, after all his roguery, was fain to run away from his creditors to the West Indies, where he died in poverty-and while his successor, Harry, elated with a puff of prosperity, and affecting the FINE GENTLEMAN, soon came out at the little end of the horn, Ben and his lovely bride, going on in their virtuous toils, prospered together like twin trees planted by the rivers of water. Lured by her pleasant looks, the book store, over which she presided, was constantly thronged; and equally pleased with the neatness and fidelity of his printing, Ben's press was always at work. Happy in the tender wish to please, "each was to the other a dearer self." And whether their duties called them to the kitchen, the book-store, or printing-office, they still found, in their mutual love, that divine cordial which lightened every burden and sweetened every care Their table, though frugal, was delicious, because seasoned with smiles of mutual fondness. And doubly welcome the return of night, where Hymen, unreproved had lighted up his sacred torch; and where pressed to the soft bosom of his affectionate spouse, the happy husband could take his fill of pure connubial bliss, without remorse or dread of danger. Such were the benefits

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