Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/51

41 name was Vernon, having a debt of about thirty-ſix pounds due to him in PenſylvaniaPennsylvania [sic], begged me to receive it for him, and to keep the money till I ſhould hear from: accordingly he gave me an order for that purpoſe. This affair occaſioned me, in the ſequel, much uneaſineſs.

At Newport we took on board a number of paſſengers; among whom were two young women, and a grave and ſenſible quaker lady with her ſervants. I had ſhown an obliging forwardneſs in rendering the quaker ſome trifling ſervices, which led her, probably, to feel an intereſt in my welfare; for when ſhe ſaw a familiarity take place, and every day increaſe, between the two young women and me, ſhe took me aſide and ſaid: "Young man, I am in pain for thee. Thou haft no parent to watch over thy conduct, and thou ſeemeſt to be ignorant of the world, and the ſnares to which youth is expoſed. Rely upon what I tell thee: thoſe are women, of bad characters; I perceive it in all their actions. If thou doſt not take care, they will lead thee into danger. They are ſtrangers to thee, and I adviſe thee, by the friendly intereſt I take in thy preſervation, to form no connection with them." As I appeared at firſt not to think quite ſo ill of them as ſhe did, ſhe related many things ſhe had ſeen and heard, which had eſcaped my attention, but which convinced me that ſhe was in the right. I thanked her for her obliging advice, and promiſed to follow it.

When we arrived at New-York, they informed me where they lodged, and invited me to come and ſee them. I did not however go, and it was well I did not; for the next day, the captain, miſſing a ſilver ſpoon and ſome other things which had been taken from the cabin, and knowing theſe women to be proſtitutes, procured a