Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/49

39 pounds ſterling in money. He gave me no very civil reception; and having eyed me from head to foot, reſumed his work.

The workmen aſked me with eagerneſs where I had been, what ſort of a country it was, and how I liked it. I ſpoke in the higheſt terms of Philadelphia, the happy life we led there, and expreſſed my intention of going back again. One of them aſking what ſort of money we had, I diſplayed before them a handful of ſilver,, which I drew from my pocket. This was a curioſity to which they were not accuſtomed, paper being the current money at Boſton. I failed not after this to let them ſee my watch; and at laſt, my brother continuing fallen and out of humour, I gave them a ſhilling to drink, and took my leave. This viſit ſtung my brother to the foul; for when, ſhortly after, my mother ſpoke to him of a reconciliation, and a deſire to fee us upon good terms, he told her that I had ſo inſulted him before his men, that he would never forget or forgive it; in this, however, he was miſtaken. The governor's letter appeared to excite in my father ſome ſurpriſe; but he ſaid little. After ſome days, captain Holmes being returned, he ſhowed it him, aſking him if he knew Keith, and what fort of a man he was: adding, that, in his opinion, it proved very little discernment to think of ſetting up a boy in buſineſs, who for three years to come would not be of an age to be ranked in the claſs of men. Holmes ſaid every thing he could in favour of the ſcheme; but my father firmly maintained its abſurdity, and at laſt gave a poſitive refuſal. He wrote, however, a civil letter to Sir William, thanking him for the protection he had ſo obligingly offered me, but refuſing to aſſiſt me for the preſent, becauſe he thought me too young to be entruſted with the