the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第7节
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found myself in New York； near 300 miles from home； a boy of but 17；
without the least recommendation to； or knowledge of any person in the
place； and with very little money in my pocket。
My inclinations for the sea were by this time worne out； or I might
now have gratify'd them。 But； having a trade； and supposing myself a
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pretty good workman； I offer'd my service to the printer in the place； old
Mr。 William Bradford； who had been the first printer in Pennsylvania； but
removed from thence upon the quarrel of George Keith。 He could give me
no employment； having little to do； and help enough already； but says he；
〃My son at Philadelphia has lately lost his principal hand； Aquila Rose； by
death； if you go thither； I believe he may employ you。〃 Philadelphia was a
hundred miles further； I set out； however； in a boat for Amboy； leaving my
chest and things to follow me round by sea。
In crossing the bay； we met with a squall that tore our rotten sails to
pieces； prevented our getting into the Kill and drove us upon Long Island。
In our way； a drunken Dutchman； who was a passenger too； fell overboard；
when he was sinking； I reached through the water to his shock pate； and
drew him up； so that we got him in again。 His ducking sobered him a little；
and he went to sleep； taking first out of his pocket a book； which he desir'd
I would dry for him。 It proved to be my old favorite author； Bunyan's
Pilgrim's Progress； in Dutch； finely printed on good paper； with copper
cuts； a dress better than I had ever seen it wear in its own language。 I have
since found that it has been translated into most of the languages of
Europe； and suppose it has been more generally read than any other book；
except perhaps the Bible。 Honest John was the first that I know of who
mix'd narration and dialogue； a method of writing very engaging to the
reader； who in the most interesting parts finds himself； as it were； brought
into the company and present at the discourse。 De Foe in his Cruso； his
Moll Flanders； Religious Courtship； Family Instructor； and other pieces；
has imitated it with success； and Richardson has done the same； in his
Pamela； etc。
When we drew near the island； we found it was at a place where there
could be no landing； there being a great surff on the stony beach。 So we
dropt anchor； and swung round towards the shore。 Some people came
down to the water edge and hallow'd to us； as we did to them； but the wind
was so high； and the surff so loud； that we could not hear so as to
understand each other。 There were canoes on the shore； and we made signs；
and hallow'd that they should fetch us； but they either did not understand
us； or thought it impracticable； so they went away； and night coming on；
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we had no remedy but to wait till the wind should abate； and； in the
meantime； the boatman and I concluded to sleep； if we could； and so
crowded into the scuttle； with the Dutchman； who was still wet； and the
spray beating over the head of our boat； leak'd thro' to us； so that we were
soon almost as wet as he。 In this manner we lay all night； with very little
rest； but； the wind abating the next day； we made a shift to reach Amboy
before night； having been thirty hours on the water； without victuals； or
any drink but a bottle of filthy rum； and the water we sail'd on being salt。
In the evening I found myself very feverish； and went in to bed； but；
having read somewhere that cold water drank plentifully was good for a
fever； I follow'd the prescription； sweat plentiful most of the night； my
fever left me； and in the morning； crossing the ferry； I proceeded on my
journey on foot； having fifty miles to Burlington； where I was told I
should find boats that would carry me the rest of the way to Philadelphia。
It rained very hard all the day； I was thoroughly soak'd； and by noon a
good deal tired； so I stopt at a poor inn； where I staid all night； beginning
now to wish that I had never left home。 I cut so miserable a figure； too；
that I found； by the questions ask'd me； I was suspected to be some
runaway servant； and in danger of being taken up on that suspicion。
However； I proceeded the next day； and got in the evening to an inn；
within eight or ten miles of Burlington； kept by one Dr。 Brown。 He entered
into conversation with me while I took some refreshment； and； finding I
had read a little； became very sociable and friendly。 Our acquaintance
continu'd as long as he liv'd。 He had been； I imagine； an itinerant doctor；
for there was no town in England； or country in Europe； of which he could
not give a very particular account。 He had some letters； and was ingenious；
but much of an unbeliever； and wickedly undertook； some years after； to
travestie the Bible in doggrel verse； as Cotton had done Virgil。 By this
means he set many of the facts in a very ridiculous light； and might have
hurt weak minds if his work had been published； but it never was。
At his house I lay that night； and the next morning reach'd Burlington；
but had the mortification to find that the regular boats were gone a little
before my coming； and no other expected to go before Tuesday； this being
Saturday； wherefore I returned to an old woman in the town； of whom I
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had bought gingerbread to eat on the water； and ask'd her advice。 She
invited me to lodge at her house till a passage by water should offer； and
being tired with my foot travelling； I accepted the invitation。 She
understanding I was a printer； would have had me stay at that town and
follow my business； being ignorant of the stock necessary to begin with。
She was very hospitable； gave me a dinner of ox…cheek with great good
will； accepting only a pot of ale in return； and I thought myself fixed till
Tuesday should come。 However； walking in the evening by the side of the
river； a boat came by； which I found was going towards Philadelphia； with
several people in her。 They took me in； and； as there was no wind； we
row'd all the way； and about midnight； not having yet seen the city； some
of the company were confident we must have passed it； and would row no
farther； the others knew not where we were； so we put toward the shore；
got into a creek； landed near an old fence； with the rails of which we made
a fire； the night being cold； in October； and there we remained till daylight。
Then one of the company knew the place to be Cooper's Creek； a little
above Philadelphia； which we saw as soon as we got out of the creek； and
arriv'd there about eight or nine o'clock on the Sunday morning； and
landed at the Market…street wharf。
I have been the more particular in this description of my journey； and
shall be so of my first entry into that city； that you may in your mind
compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there。
I was in my working dress； my best cloaths being to come round by sea。 I
was dirty from my journey； my pockets were stuff'd out with shirts and
stockings； and I knew no soul nor where to look for lodging。 I was
fatigued with travelling； rowing； and want of rest； I was very hungry； and
my whole stock of cash consisted of a Dutch dollar； and about a shilling in
copper。 The latter I gave the people of the boat for my passage； who at first
refus'd it； on account of my rowing； but I insisted on their taking it。 A man
being sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when
he has plenty； perhaps thro' fear of being thought to have but little。
Then I walked up the street； gazing about till near the market…house I
met a boy with bread。 I had made many a meal on bread； and； inquiring
where he got it； I went immediately to the baker's he directed me to； in
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