Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/48

38 him. It was thus concluded that I ſhould return to Boſton by the firſt veſſel, with the letter of recommendation from the governor to my father. Meanwhile the project was to be kept ſecret, and I continued to work for Keimer as before.

The governor ſent every now and then to invite me to dine with him. I considered this as a very great honour; and I was the more ſenſible of it, as he converſed with me in the moſt affable, familiar, and friendly manner imaginable. Towards the end of April 1724, a ſmall veſſel was ready to ſail for Boſton. I took leave of Keimer, upon the pretext of going to ſee my parents. The governor gave me a long letter, in which he ſaid many flattering things of me to my father; and ſtrongly recommended the project of my ſettling at Philadelphia, as a thing which could not fail to make my fortune.

Going down the bay we ſtruck on a flat, and ſprung a leak. The weather was very tempeſtuous, and we were obliged to pump without intermiſſion; I took my turn. We arrived however ſafe and found at Boſton, after about a fortnight's paſſage.

I had been abſent ſeven complete months, and my relations, during that interval, had received no intelligence of me; for my brother-in-law, Holmes, was not yet returned, and had not written about me. My unexpected appearance ſurprized the family; but they were all delighted at ſeeing me again, and, except my brother, welcomed me home. I went to him at the printing-houſe. I was better dreſſed than I had ever been while in his ſervice: I had a complete ſuit of clothes, new and neat, a watch in my pocket, and my purſe was furniſhed with nearly five