Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/84

74 will ſhare the profits equally." His propoſal was reaſonable, and I fell in with it. His father, who was then in the town, approved of it. He knew that I had ſome aſcendancy over his ſon, as I had been able to prevail on him to abſtain a long time from drinking brandy; and he hoped that, when more cloſely connected with him, I ſhould cure him entirely of this unfortunate habit.

I gave the father a liſt of what it would be neceſſary to import from London. He took it to a merchant, and the order was given. We agreed to keep the ſecret till the arrival of the materials, and I was in the mean time to procure work, if poſſible, in another printing-houſe; but there was no place vacant, and I remained idle. After ſome days, Keimer having the expectation of being employed to print ſome New-Jerſey money-bills, that would require types and engravings which I only could furniſh, and fearful that Bradford, by engaging me, might deprive him of this undertaking, ſent me a very civil meſſage, telling me that old friends ought not to be diſunited on account of a few words, which were the effect only of a momentary paſſion, and inviting me to return to him. Meredith perſuaded me to comply with the invitation, particularly as it would afford him more opportunities of improving himſelf in the buſineſs by means of my inſtructions. I did ſo; and we lived upon better terms than before our ſeparation.

He obtained the New-Jerſey buſineſs; and, in order to execute it, I conſtructed a copper-plate printing-preſs; the firſt that had been ſeen in the country. I engraved various ornaments and vignettes for the bills; and we repaired to Burlington together, where I executed the whole to the general ſatisfaction and he received a ſum of