Benjamin Franklin | Page 6

of these several forces
was at last a suggestion from his father that he should take up, as a sort
of quasi-literary occupation, the trade of a printer. James Franklin, an
older brother of Benjamin, was already of that calling. Benjamin stood
out for some time, but at last reluctantly yielded, and in the maturity of
his thirteenth year this child set his hand to an indenture of
apprenticeship which formally bound him to his brother for the next
nine years of his life.
Handling the types aroused a boyish ambition to see himself in print.
He scribbled some ballads, one about a shipwreck, another about the
capture of a pirate; but he "escaped being a poet," as fortunately as he
had escaped being a clergyman. James Franklin seems to have trained
his junior with such fraternal cuffs and abuse as the elder brothers of
English biography and literature appear usually to have bestowed on
the younger. But this younger one got his revenges. James published
the "New England Courant," and, inserting in it some objectionable
matter, was forbidden to continue it. Thereupon he canceled the
indenture of apprenticeship, and the newspaper was thereafter
published by Benjamin Franklin. A secret renewal of the indenture was
executed simultaneously. This "flimsy scheme" gave the boy his
chance. Secure that the document would never be produced, he
resolved to leave the printing-house. But the influence of James
prevented his getting employment elsewhere in the town. Besides this,
other matters also harassed him. It gives an idea of the scale of things
in the little settlement, and of the serious way in which life was taken
even at its outset, to hear that this 'prentice lad of seventeen years had
already made himself "a little obnoxious to the governing party," so as
to fear that he might soon "bring himself into scrapes." For the
inherited habit of freedom in religious speculation had taken a new
form in Franklin, who was already a free-thinker, and by his "indiscreet

disputations about religion" had come to be "pointed at with horror by
good people as an infidel and atheist"--compromising, even perilous,
names to bear in that Puritan village. Various motives thus combined to
induce migration. He stole away on board a sloop bound for New York,
and after three days arrived there, in October, 1723. He had but a
trifling sum of money, and he knew no one in the strange city. He
sought occupation in his trade, but got nothing better than advice to
move on to Philadelphia; and thither he went. The story of this
journeying is delightfully told in the autobiography, with the famous
little scene wherein he figures with a loaf under each arm and
munching a third while he walks "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."
In Philadelphia Franklin soon found opportunity to earn a living at his
trade. There were then only two printers in that town, ignorant men
both, with scant capacity in the technique of their calling. His greater
acquirements and ability, and superior knowledge of the craft, soon
attracted attention. One day Sir William Keith, governor of the
province, appeared at the printing-office, inquired for Franklin, and
carried him off "to taste some excellent Madeira" with himself and
Colonel French, while employer Keimer, bewildered at the compliment
to his journeyman, "star'd like a pig poison'd." Over the genial glasses
the governor proposed that Franklin should set up for himself, and
promised his own influence to secure for him the public printing. Later
he wrote a letter, intended to induce Franklin's father to advance the
necessary funds. Equipped with this document, Franklin set out, in
April, 1724, to seek his father's coöperation, and surprised his family
by appearing unannounced among them, not at all in the classic garb of
the prodigal son, but "having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a
watch, and my pockets lin'd with near five pounds sterling in silver."
But neither his prosperous appearance nor the flattering epistle of the
great man could induce his hard-headed parent to favor a scheme "of
setting a boy up in business, who wanted yet three years of being at
man's estate." The independent old tallow-chandler only concluded that
the distinguished baronet "must be of small discretion." So Franklin

returned with "some small gifts as tokens" of parental love, much good
advice as to "steady industry and prudent parsimony," but no cash in
hand. The gallant governor, however, said: "Since he will not set you
up, I will do it myself," and a plan was soon concocted whereby
Franklin was to go to England and