“YOUR printing-press is a good deal out of repair, I see; I expect you bought it secondhand." The speaker was Benjamin Franklin, and it was his employer, Mr. Keimer, who replied, "Yes, I did not feel free to purchase a better press than I could afford to pay for. I know it is very much out of order. I know too that we cannot get high-class work upon such a shaky press, but I do not think we could get a skilled mechanic nearer than New York, and that would mean not only expense but loss of time.”
“I see just what is wrong with it, and I believe I can put it to rights, if you are not afraid to trust me," said Benjamin.
“What, do you understand a printing-press well enough to repair one?”
“I can repair this one," said Benjamin, "and it won't take me very long either.”
“Well then, get to work at once; I will go on setting up type while you are busy with the press," said Mr. Keimer, surprised and pleased that the printer-boy from Boston was able to put his press into good working order.
Benjamin set to work, and the press was soon doing better work than it had done since it came into Mr. Keimer's possession. He afterward repaired another press belonging to the younger Mr. Bradford.
It was a great surprise to young Franklin, who still believed that his family were in complete ignorance of his whereabouts, to receive a letter from his brother-in-law, begging him to return, or at least to write. The letter was somewhat as follows:—
“MY DEAR BENJAMIN,—I have just had an interview with some one who comes from Philadelphia, and heard to my great surprise that you are and have for some months been living in that city. You do not, cannot know the sorrow your rash and thoughtless act has caused to those who truly love you. Your mother seems almost brokenhearted, and your father looks careworn and much older since you left home. I write to advise and entreat you to return; you need not doubt your welcome; all the family are longing to see you. I shall very soon hope to hear from, or perhaps even to see you.
Yours affectionately,
"ROBERT HOUSE.”
The letter took Benjamin by surprise. His friends knew where he was, though how they could have found out was more than he could tell. Yes, he would write and ask to be forgiven for running away. Work hours that day seemed to him longer than usual, and it was only by a strong effort he was able to pay proper attention to his work. Evening came at last, and hasting to his boarding-house he wrote quite a long letter, from which we give a few extracts:—
“DEAR BROTHER,-I received your letter this morning. I need hardly say it was a great surprise to me. How you found out my whereabouts is a mystery to me. However, I feel sure it is all for the best.
“Your letter gives me an opportunity of telling why I left Boston so suddenly; the sole cause was the unkind treatment I received from James. He forgot, I think, that I was his brother, and showed himself a hard and cruel master.
“The violent temper and frequent severe beatings I received from him made my daily life as hard and bitter as the worst negro slavery could have done. Perhaps at times I was saucy and provoking, but I cannot see that James had any right to treat me so unkindly.
“It was a long time before I could make up my mind to run away in the way I did, and I hardly think I should have done so if my father, who had always treated me with great kindness, had not taken part with my brother.
"I am truly sorry for all the anxiety and unhappiness that has been caused in the home circle by my conduct, but I am now in good work; and if industry, economy and perseverance will help me to win in the battle of life, I still hope to do so,—Your affectionate brother,
"BENJAMIN.”
The letter from which I have copied a few sentences seems to me on the whole a very sad one, for though there was a great deal that was lovable in the character of the bright, clever youth with whom our story has to do, yet he had not turned to God with the cry, "Father, I have sinned," so he did not, could not know how glad and tender that Father's welcome would have been. Do you know it, dear young reader?