in your

mind

I have been the more particular in this descrip tion of my journey, and shall be so of my first entry into that city, that you may compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there. I was in my working 5 dress, my best clothes being to come round by

sea. I was dirty from my journey, my pockets were stuffed out with shirts and stockings, and I knew no soul nor where to look for lodgings. I was fatigued with traveling, rowing, and want of 5 rest. I was very hungry, and my whole stock of cash consisted of a Dutch dollar, and about a shilling in copper. The latter I gave the people of the boat for my passage, who at first refused it on account of my rowing; but I insisted on their 10 taking it. A man is sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps through fear of being thought to have but little.

Then I walked up the street, gazing about till 15 near the market-house I met a boy with bread. I had made many a meal on bread, and, inquiring where he got it, I went immediately to the baker's he directed me to, in Second Street, and asked for biscuit, meaning such as we had in Boston; but 20 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 bade him give me three-penny worth of any sort.

He gave
I was

me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls. surprised at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my pockets, walked off with a rolls 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 10 awkward, ridiculous appearance. Then I turned and went down Chestnut Street and part of Walnut Street, eating my roll all the way and, coming round, found myself again at Market Street wharf, near the boat I came in, to which I went 15 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 a boat with us, and were waiting to go farther.

Thus refreshed, I walked again up the street, 20 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 through labor and want of rest the preced5 ing 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.

Dutch dollar: a Dutch coin called Daalder (dah'ler), worth about thirty cents

entry (en'try): going into fatigued (fa tēgd'): tired

particular (par tik'u ler): careful of the little things

FRANKLIN: Autobiography.

Quaker: one who belongs to the Society of Friends, a religious denomination

refreshed (re fresht'): made stronger ridiculous (ri dik'u lus): laughable shilling (shil'ling): an English coin worth nearly twenty-five cents

HELPS TO STUDY

1. What things show that Franklin was poor ? 2. What shows that he was successful later on? 3. Describe his appearance. Who noticed him as he walked up the street? 4. Where did he first sleep in Philadelphia, and how did he come to be there? 5. Of what other self-made men have you heard?

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TURNING THE GRINDSTONE

When I was a little boy, I remember, one cold winter's morning, I was accosted by a smiling man with an ax on his shoulder. "My pretty boy," said he, "has your father a grindstone?" Yes, sir," said I. "You are a fine little fellow," 5 said he, "will you let me grind my ax on it?" Pleased with the compliment of "fine little fellow," "O yes, sir," I answered. "It is down in the shop." "And will you, my man," said he, patting me on the head, "get me a little hot 10 water?" How could I refuse? I ran, and soon

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