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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 58
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had a good deal of interest. I therefore propos'd a partner-ship to him which
he, fortunately for me, rejected with scorn. He was very proud, dress'd like a
gentleman, liv'd expensively, took much diversion and pleasure abroad, ran in
debt, and neglected his business; upon which, all business left him; and,
finding nothing to do, he followed Keimer to Barbadoes, taking the
printing-house with him. There this apprentice employ'd his former master as a
journeyman; they quarrel'd often; Harry went continually behindhand, and at
length was forc'd to sell his types and return to his country work in
Pensilvania. The person that bought them employ'd Keimer to use them, but in a
few years he died.
There remained now no competitor with me at Philadelphia but the old one,
Bradford; who was rich and easy, did a little printing now and then by
straggling hands, but was not very anxious about the business. However, as he
kept the post-office, it was imagined he had better opportunities of obtaining
news; his paper was thought a better distributer of advertisements than mine,
and therefore had many, more, which was a profitable thing to him, and a
disadvantage to me; for, tho' I did indeed receive and send papers by the post,
yet the publick opinion was otherwise, for what I did send was by bribing the
riders, who took them privately, Bradford being unkind enough to forbid it,
which occasion'd some resentment on my part; and I thought so meanly of him for
it, that, when I afterward came into his situation, I took care never to imitate
it.
I had hitherto continu'd to board with Godfrey, who lived in part of my house
with his wife and children, and had one side of the shop for his glazier's
business, tho' he worked little, being always absorbed in his mathematics. Mrs.
Godfrey projected a match for me with a relation's daughter, took opportunities
of bringing us often together, till a serious courtship on my part ensu'd, the
girl being in herself very deserving. The old folks encourag'd me by continual
invitations to supper, and by leaving us together, till at length it was time to
explain. Mrs. Godfrey manag'd our little treaty. I let her know that I expected
as much money with their daughter as would pay off my remaining debt for the
printing-house, which I believe was not then above a hundred pounds. She brought
me word they had no such sum to spare; I said they might mortgage their house in
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