Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/81

71, where he remained about a year; but he was not contented, and wiſhed above all things to ſee London, and become an actor. At length, having received fifteen guineas to pay his quarter's board, he decamped with the money from Oxford, hid his gown in a hedge, and travelled to London. There, having no friend to direct him, he fell into bad company, ſoon ſquandered his fifteen guineas, could find no way of being introduced to the actors, became contemptible, pawned his clothes, and was in want of bread. As he was walking along the ſtreets, almoſt famiſhed with hunger, and not knowing what to do, a recruiting bill was put into his hand, which offered an immediate treat and bounty-money to whoever was difpoſed to ſerve in America. He inſtantly repaired to the houſe of rendezvous, inliſted himſelf, was put on board a ſhip and conveyed to America, without ever writing a line to inform his parents what was become of him. His mental vivacity, and good natural diſpoſition, made him an excellent companion; but he was indolent, thoughtleſs, and to the laſt degree imprudent.

John, the Iriſhman, ſoon ran away. I began to live very agreeably with the reſt. They reſpected me, and the more ſo as they found Keimer incapable of inſtructing them, and as they learned ſomething from me every day. We never worked on a Saturday, it being Keimer's ſabbath; ſo that I had two days a week for reading.

I increaſed my acquaintance with perſons of knowledge and information in the town. Keimer himſelf treated me with great civility and apparent eſteem; and I had nothing to give me uneaſineſs but my debt to Vernon, which I was unable to pay, my ſavings as yet being very