the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第10节
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with a degree of good will toward me； therefore； when she saw a daily
growing familiarity between me and the two young women； which they
appear'd to encourage； she took me aside； and said： 〃Young man； I am
concern'd for thee； as thou has no friend with thee； and seems not to know
much of the world； or of the snares youth is expos'd to； depend upon it；
those are very bad women； I can see it in all their actions； and if thee art
not upon thy guard； they will draw thee into some danger； they are
strangers to thee； and I advise thee； in a friendly concern for thy welfare；
to have no acquaintance with them。〃 As I seem'd at first not to think so ill
of them as she did； she mentioned some things she had observ'd and heard
that had escap'd my notice； but now convinc'd me she was right。 I thank'd
her for her kind advice； and promis'd to follow it。 When we arriv'd at New
York； they told me where they liv'd； and invited me to come and see them；
but I avoided it； and it was well I did； for the next day the captain miss'd a
silver spoon and some other things； that had been taken out of his cabbin；
and； knowing that these were a couple of strumpets； he got a warrant to
search their lodgings； found the stolen goods； and had the thieves punish'd。
So； tho' we had escap'd a sunken rock； which we scrap'd upon in the
passage； I thought this escape of rather more importance to me。
At New York I found my friend Collins； who had arriv'd there some
time before me。 We had been intimate from children； and had read the
same books together； but he had the advantage of more time for reading
and studying； and a wonderful genius for mathematical learning； in which
he far outstript me。 While I liv'd in Boston most of my hours of leisure for
conversation were spent with him； and he continu'd a sober as well as an
industrious lad； was much respected for his learning by several of the
clergy and other gentlemen； and seemed to promise making a good figure
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in life。 But； during my absence； he had acquir'd a habit of sotting with
brandy； and I found by his own account； and what I heard from others； that
he had been drunk every day since his arrival at New York； and behav'd
very oddly。 He had gam'd； too； and lost his money； so that I was oblig'd to
discharge his lodgings； and defray his expenses to and at Philadelphia；
which prov'd extremely inconvenient to me。
The then governor of New York； Burnet （son of Bishop Burnet）；
hearing from the captain that a young man； one of his passengers； had a
great many books； desir'd he would bring me to see him。 I waited upon
him accordingly； and should have taken Collins with me but that he was
not sober。 The gov'r。 treated me with great civility； show'd me his library；
which was a very large one； and we had a good deal of conversation about
books and authors。 This was the second governor who had done me the
honor to take notice of me； which； to a poor boy like me； was very
pleasing。
We proceeded to Philadelphia。 I received on the way Vernon's money；
without which we could hardly have finish'd our journey。 Collins wished
to be employ'd in some counting…house； but； whether they discover'd his
dramming by his breath； or by his behaviour； tho' he had some
recommendations； he met with no success in any application； and
continu'd lodging and boarding at the same house with me； and at my
expense。 Knowing I had that money of Vernon's； he was continually
borrowing of me； still promising repayment as soon as he should be in
business。 At length he had got so much of it that I was distress'd to think
what I should do in case of being call'd on to remit it。
His drinking continu'd； about which we sometimes quarrell'd；； for；
when a little intoxicated； he was very fractious。 Once； in a boat on the
Delaware with some other young men； he refused to row in his turn。 〃I
will be row'd home；〃 says he。 〃We will not row you；〃 says I。 〃You must； or
stay all night on the water；〃 says he； 〃just as you please。〃 The others said；
〃Let us row； what signifies it？〃 But； my mind being soured with his other
conduct； I continu'd to refuse。 So he swore he would make me row； or
throw me overboard； and coming along； stepping on the thwarts； toward
me； when he came up and struck at me； I clapped my hand under his
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crutch； and； rising； pitched him head…foremost into the river。 I knew he
was a good swimmer； and so was under little concern about him； but
before he could get round to lay hold of the boat； we had with a few
strokes pull'd her out of his reach； and ever when he drew near the boat；
we ask'd if he would row； striking a few strokes to slide her away from
him。 He was ready to die with vexation； and obstinately would not
promise to row。 However； seeing him at last beginning to tire； we lifted
him in and brought him home dripping wet in the evening。 We hardly
exchang'd a civil word afterwards； and a West India captain； who had a
commission to procure a tutor for the sons of a gentleman at Barbadoes；
happening to meet with him； agreed to carry him thither。 He left me then；
promising to remit me the first money he should receive in order to
discharge the debt； but I never heard of him after。
The breaking into this money of Vernon's was one of the first great
errata of my life； and this affair show'd that my father was not much out in
his judgment when he suppos'd me too young to manage business of
importance。 But Sir William； on reading his letter； said he was too prudent。
There was great difference in persons； and discretion did not always
accompany years； nor was youth always without it。 〃And since he will not
set you up；〃 says he； 〃I will do it myself。 Give me an inventory of the
things necessary to be had from England； and I will send for them。 You
shall repay me when you are able； I am resolv'd to have a good printer
here； and I am sure you must succeed。〃 This was spoken with such an
appearance of cordiality； that I had not the least doubt of his meaning what
he said。 I had hitherto kept the proposition of my setting up； a secret in
Philadelphia； and I still kept it。 Had lt been known that I depended on the
governor； probably some friend； that knew him better； would have advis'd
me not to rely on him； as I afterwards heard it as his known character to be
liberal of promises which he never meant to keep。 Yet； unsolicited as he
was by me； how could I think his generous offers insincere？ I believ'd him
one of the best men in the world。
I presented him an inventory of a little print'g…house； amounting by my
computation to about one hundred pounds sterling。 He lik'd it； but ask'd
me if my being on the spot in England to chuse the types； and see that
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every thing was good of the kind； might not be of some advantage。
〃Then；〃 says he； 〃when there； you may make acquaintances； and establish
correspondences in the bookselling and stationery way。〃 I agreed that this
might be advantageous。 〃Then；〃 says he； 〃get yourself ready to go with
Annis；〃 which was the annual ship； and the only one at that time usually
passing between London and Philadelphia。 But it would be some months
before Annis sail'd； so I continu'd working with Keimer； fretting about the
money Collins had got from me； and in daily apprehensions of being call'd
upon by Vernon； which； however； did not happen for some years after。
I believe I have omitted mentioning that； in my first voyage from
Boston； being becalm'd off Block Island； our people
