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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 22
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father, on Keimer's saying he expected soon to get the greatest part of the
business into his own hands, drew him on by artful questions, and starting
little doubts, to explain all his views, what interests he reli'd on, and in
what manner he intended to proceed. I, who stood by and heard all, saw
immediately that one of them was a crafty old sophister, and the other a mere
novice. Bradford left me with Keimer, who was greatly surpris'd when I told him
who the old man was.
Keimer's printing-house, I found, consisted of an old shatter'd press, and one
small, worn-out font of English which he was then using himself, composing an
Elegy on Aquila Rose, before mentioned, an ingenious young man, of excellent
character, much respected in the town, clerk of the Assembly, and a pretty poet.
Keimer made verses too, but very indifferently. He could not be said to write
them, for his manner was to compose them in the types directly out of his head.
So there being no copy, but one pair of cases, and the Elegy likely to require
all the letter, no one could help him. I endeavor'd to put his press (which he
had not yet us'd, and of which he understood nothing) into order fit to be
work'd with; and, promising to come and print off his Elegy as soon as he should
have got it ready, I return'd to Bradford's, who gave me a little job to do for
the present, and there I lodged and dieted, A few days after, Keimer sent for me
to print off the Elegy. And now he had got another pair of cases, and a pamphlet
to reprint, on which he set me to work.
These two printers I found poorly qualified for their business. Bradford had not
been bred to it, and was very illiterate; and Keimer, tho' something of a
scholar, was a mere compositor, knowing nothing of presswork. He had been one of
the French prophets, and could act their enthusiastic agitations. At this time
he did not profess any particular religion, but something of all on occasion;
was very ignorant of the world, and had, as I afterward found, a good deal of
the knave in his composition. He did not like my lodging at Bradford's while I
work'd with him. He had a house, indeed, but without furniture, so he could not
lodge me; but he got me a lodging at Mr. Read's, before mentioned, who was the
owner of his house; and, my chest and clothes being come by this time, I made
rather a more respectable appearance in the eyes of Miss Read than I had done
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