Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/53

43 me with his attention; and to a poor boy, as I was then, theſe little adventures did not fail to be pleaſing.

We arrived at Philadelphia. On the way I received Vernon's money, without which we ſhould have been unable to finiſh our journey. Collins wiſhed to get employment as a merchant's clerk; but either his breath or his countenance betrayed his bad habit; for, though he had recommendations, he met with no ſucceſs, and continued to lodge and eat with me, and at my expence. Knowing that I had Vernon's money, he was continually aſking me to lend him ſome of it; promiſing to repay me as ſoon as he ſhould get employment. At laſt he had drawn ſo much of this money, that I was extremely alarmed at what might become of me, ſhould he fail to make good the deficiency. His habit of drinking did not at all diminiſh, and was a frequent ſource of diſcord between us; for when he had drank a little too much, he was very headſtrong.

Being one day in a boat together, on the Delaware, with ſome other young perſons, he reſuſed to take his turn in rowing. You ſhall row for me, ſaid he, till we get home.—No, I replied, we will not row for you.—You ſhall, ſaid he, or remain upon the water all night.—As you pleaſe.—Let us row, ſaid the reſt of the company; what ſignifies whether he aſſiſts or not? But, already angry with him for his conduct in other reſpects, I perſiſted in my refuſal. He then ſwore that he would make me row, or would throw me out of the boat; and he made up to me. As ſoon as he was within my reach I took him by the collar, gave him a violent thruſt, and threw him head foremoſt into the river. I knew that he was a good ſwimmer, and was therefore