43我很快就在帕尔默印刷所找到了工作。那是在巴塞洛谬巷口的一家有名的印刷所。我在那里工作了将近一年。我很勤快，但我把收入的很大一部分花在和拉尔夫看戏以及其它娱乐方面。我原来的西班牙金币也花掉了。现在我们只能勉强糊口。拉尔夫好像全然忘掉了他的妻子和孩子，至于我，某种程度上也忘记了我对里德小姐的山盟海誓。我只写过一封信，我在信里告诉她我不太可能马上回去。那是我这一生铸成的另一大错，如果，生活可以重来的话，我会改正的。事实上，我们两个的开支这么大，我们一直没凑够回去的路费。
44在帕尔默印刷所，他们指定我给沃拉斯顿的《自然宗教》第二版排版。我觉得，沃拉斯顿的论证并不很充分。因此，我就写了一篇简短的哲学文章对之做了些评论。那篇文章的题目是《论自由与贫困，快乐与痛苦》。我把这篇短文献给我的朋友拉尔夫，并印了一些。这使帕尔默先生认为我值得尊重，他把我当成了一个聪明有才华的人，虽然他对我其中的一些理论提出了严肃的批评，他甚至有些厌恶它们。我印这本小册子又是一个错误。当我住在小不列颠的时候，我认识了一个书商，他的名字叫威尔科克斯，他的书店就在隔壁。他收集了很多旧书，那个时候还没有对外开放的图书馆。我们达成了一个协议，在合理条件下，具体的条件我已经忘了，我可以借走他的任何一本书，然后再归还。它对我真是一个好事情，我尽量利用它。
45我的那本小册子不知道通过什么方式被一个叫做莱昂斯的外科医生看到了，他是《人类判断能力的确定性》的作者，我们就这样认识了。他很看重我，经常来找我谈论这些话题。他把我带到平价街的霍恩斯，那是一家淡啤酒馆。在那里，他把我介绍给《蜜蜂的童话》的作者曼德威博士。曼德威博士在那里开了一家俱乐部，他是俱乐部的核心人物，他是一个非常风趣幽默的家伙。莱昂斯还把我介绍给巴特咖啡屋的佩姆顿博士。佩姆顿博士答应什么时候方便的话会给我机会让我见萨克·牛顿爵士。我很想有那一天，但那一天从来没有到来。
46我从新大陆带了几件珍品，其中一件是用石棉制成的钱包，那是用火锻炼而成的。汉斯·斯隆爵士听说我有这样的钱包，就来拜访我，并且邀请我去布鲁斯伯广场的家里，让我看他收藏的珍品，他还劝我把我的钱包转让给他，成为他的收藏品中的一部分，并付给我一笔可观的钱来买它。
47在我们住的那个地方还有个年轻的女子住在那里，我想她是在修道院那里有个铺子。她受过良好的教育，通情达理，善解人意，活泼开朗，善于交谈。在晚上的时候，拉尔夫读剧本给她听，他们的关系逐渐亲密起来。她另租了地方住，拉尔夫也跟着去了。他们同居了一段日子，但拉尔夫仍然没有找到工作，而她的收入又不够维持他们和她的孩子的生活。所以，拉尔夫决心离开伦敦，试着去乡村学校找工作。他想他是能够胜任教师一职的，因为他写得一手好字，数学和会计都很不错。但是，他总觉得那是屈就。他觉得自己将来一定会时来运转，那个时候，他不想别人知道他曾经做过这么卑贱的工作，所以他改了个名字，叫“富兰克林”，以表示对我的尊重。因为，不久以后我就收到他的来信，他告诉我他在一个小村子里教书。我想是在伯克村。在那里他教10到12个小孩子，每周薪金6便士。他还叫我照顾Ｔ夫人，并且希望我写信给他，收信人是那个地方的老师富兰克林。
48他继续不断地给我写信，寄来他那个时候正在创作的一篇长篇叙事诗，并且希望我批评指正。我不时地给他一点建议，但更多的时候是劝他不要再在这条路上走了。那个时候正好班扬的讽刺诗出版了，我就抄了诗的大部分给他，那首诗强烈地讽刺了那些没有希望成功的年轻人愚蠢地追求诗神缪斯的行为。但我做的这些都是徒劳无功的，他的诗仍然被不断地寄来。同时，Ｔ夫人由于拉尔夫的关系失去了她的工作和朋友，生活困苦，经常来找我，借走我自己所能节省的钱。我逐渐喜欢和她在一起，而且那个时候由于没有宗教的束缚，我觉得自己在她心里很重要，就想和她有亲昵的行为，但她愤怒地拒绝了我（又一个错误），并且把我的行为告诉了拉尔夫。这就使得我和拉尔夫之间产生了隔阂。当拉尔夫回到伦敦的时候，他告诉我，我们之间的恩惠从此一笔勾销。我也就知道我借给他的钱和为他预付的钱都一去不复还了。但是，那也不重要，反正他也没有还的能力。失去了拉尔夫的友谊，我倒有种如释重负的感觉。现在，我开始考虑存点钱。为了得到一个更好的工作，我离开了帕尔默印刷所，来到了瓦茨印刷所，就在林肯酒店不远的地方，是一家比帕尔默印刷所更大的印刷所。我在那里一直工作到我离开伦敦。
49我刚进入瓦茨印刷所的时候是做的印刷工作，我觉得在这里有在新大陆工作的时候所没有的那种体力锻炼。在这里，印刷和排字是在一起的。我只喝水，其他的人，大概接近50个，他们都是酒鬼。有的时候，我可以每一只手拿一排铅字上下楼梯，但是，其他的人则需要用两只手拿一排铅字。他们对这和其它类似的事情感到很惊奇。我这个喝水的美洲人——他们是这样称呼我的，竟然比他们这些喝浓稠啤酒的人还要强壮有力。有一个经常来给我们印刷所送啤酒的男孩。和我一起印刷的一个人，他每天早饭前喝1品脱啤酒，早餐的时候和着面包与奶酪喝1品脱啤酒，早饭和午饭间喝1品脱啤酒，午饭喝1品脱啤酒，下午大概6点钟的时候又喝1品脱啤酒，做完工作后再喝1品脱啤酒。我觉得那是很恶心的习惯，但他却觉得这些都是必须的。因为他觉得，喝浓啤酒才有力量干活。我尽力想让他相信，啤酒在身体中产生的力量只跟酿酒时溶于水中的谷物和大麦成正比。在1便士的面包中所含的面粉更多，因此，如果他吃1便士的面包，再喝1品脱的水，那会比他喝1夸脱的啤酒所产生的力量更大。但是，无论我怎样说，他都照喝他的啤酒。每个周末的时候，他都要从他的工资中拿出4、5先令来付他那个泥浆水。这笔费用我是不用掏的，这些可怜的家伙总是让别的东西主宰。
50几个星期以后，瓦茨让我去排字间工作，就这样，我离开了印刷间。排字的工人却要我支付一笔5先令的啤酒费，这笔钱我在印刷间的时候就付过了，我觉得那是一种敲诈。老板也这样认为，他不让我付这笔钱。我坚持了两三个星期，他们想开除我的会籍，并在私下里搞了许多恶作剧。比如，当我离开一会儿的时候，我的铅字就会被弄乱，页码也会被改变。所以这些都被解释为印刷所里的魔鬼作祟。他们说，那些没有得到印刷所里的人认可的人就会受到鬼魂的作弄，即使他有老板的保护。我被迫服从，并答应付钱。这件事情让我知道了得罪和你朝夕相处的人是很愚蠢的。
51现在我终于能和他们和睦相处了，并且很快对他们产生了巨大影响。我建议对印刷的规矩做一些合理的改动，并且驳倒了所有的反对意见。以我为榜样，许多工人吃早餐的时候不再把啤酒、奶酪和面包混在一起吃。因为他们发现和我一样——吃隔壁邻居提供的一大碗热粥，洒上胡椒粉，把面包弄碎，然后涂上点牛油——这些东西的价格等于1品脱啤酒的价格，也就是3.5便士。这样的早餐既便宜又吃的好，还可以保持头脑清醒。那些仍然整天酗酒的人，由于欠钱没有还，没有了信用，酒店就不赊酒给他们了，他们就来找我借钱，用他们的话来说，他们已经走投无路了。每到星期六的晚上，我就等着发工资，收回我借给他们的钱，有的时候一个星期有30先令之多。同时，他们也认为我是一个很幽默的人，很会讲话。他们因此很敬重我。我从来不缺勤（因为我从来不用请假做礼拜，我不是教徒），老板也因此很喜欢我。由于我做事的速度很快，老板总是把急件交给我做，待遇经常要高一点。这样，我的生活就过得越来越舒适了。
part 2
1i 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.
2then 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 second-street, and ask'd for bisket, intending such as we had in boston; but they, it seems, were not made in philadelphia. then i asked for a three-penny loaf, and was told they had none such. so not considering or knowing the difference of money, and the greater cheapness nor the names of his bread, i made him give me three-penny worth of any sort. he gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls. i was surpriz'd at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my pockets, walk'd off with a roll under each arm, and eating the other. thus i went up market-street as far as fourth-street, passing by the door of mr. read, my future wife's father; when she, standing at the door, saw me, and thought i made, as i certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous appearance. then i turned and went down chestnut-street and part of walnut-street, eating my roll all the way, and, corning round, found myself again at market-street wharf, near the boat i came in, to which i went for a draught of the river water; and, being filled with one of my rolls, gave the other two to a woman and her child that came down the river in the boat with us, and were waiting to go farther.
3thus refreshed, i walked again up the street, which by this time had many clean-dressed people in it, who were all walking the same way. i joined them, and thereby was led into the great meeting-house of the quakers near the market. i sat down among them, and, after looking round awhile and hearing nothing said, being very drowsy thro' labor and want of rest the preceding night, i fell fast asleep, and continued so till the meeting broke up, when one was kind enough to rouse me. this was, therefore, the first house i was in, or slept in, in philadelphia.
4walking down again toward the river, and, looking in the faces of people, i met a young quaker man, whose countenance i lik'd, and, accosting him, requested he would tell me where a stranger could get lodging. we were then near the sign of the three mariners. \"here,\" says he, \"is one place that entertains strangers, but it is not a reputable house; if thee wilt walk with me, i'll show thee a better.\" he brought me to the crooked billet in water-street. here i got a dinner; and, while i was eating it, several sly questions were asked me, as it seemed to be suspected from my youth and appearance, that i might be some runaway.
5after dinner, my sleepiness return'd, and being shown to a bed, i lay down without undressing, and slept till six in the evening, was call'd to supper, went to bed again very early, and slept soundly till next morning. then i made myself as tidy as i could, and went to andrew bradford the printer's. i found in the shop the old man his father, whom i had seen at new york, and who, travelling on horseback, had got to philadelphia before me. he introduc'd me to his son, who receiv'd me civilly, gave me a breakfast, but told me he did not at present want a hand, being lately suppli'd with one; but there was another printer in town, lately set up, one keimer, who, perhaps, might employ me; if not, i should be welcome to lodge at his house, and he would give me a little work to do now and then till fuller business should offer.
6the old gentleman said he would go with me to the new printer; and when we found him, \"neighbor,\" says bradford, \"i have brought to see you a young man of your business; perhaps you may want such a one.\" he ask'd me a few questions, put a composing stick in my hand to see how i work'd, and then said he would employ me soon, though he had just then nothing for me to do; and, taking old bradford, whom he had never seen before, to be one of the town's people that had a good will for him, enter'd into a conversation on his present undertaking and projects; while bradford, not discovering that he was the other printer's 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.
7keimer'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.
8these 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 when she first happen'd to see me eating my roll in the street.
9i began now to have some acquaintance among the young people of the town, that were lovers of reading, with whom i spent my evenings very pleasantly; and gaining money by my industry and frugality, i lived very agreeably, forgetting boston as much as i could, and not desiring that any there should know where i resided, except my friend collins, who was in my secret, and kept it when i wrote to him. at length, an incident happened that sent me back again much sooner than i had intended. i had a brother-in-law, robert holmes, master of a sloop that traded between boston and delaware. he being at newcastle, forty miles below philadelphia, heard there of me, and wrote me a letter mentioning the concern of my friends in boston at my abrupt departure, assuring me of their good will to me, and that every thing would be accommodated to my mind if i would return, to which he exhorted me very earnestly. i wrote an answer to his letter, thank'd him for his advice, but stated my reasons for quitting boston fully and in such a light as to convince him i was not so wrong as he had apprehended.
10sir william keith, governor of the province, was then at newcastle, and captain holmes, happening to be in company with him when my letter came to hand, spoke to him of me, and show'd him the letter. the governor read it, and seem'd surpris'd when he was told my age. he said i appear'd a young man of promising parts, and therefore should be encouraged; the printers at philadelphia were wretched ones; and, if i would set up there, he made no doubt i should succeed; for his part, he would procure me the public business, and do me every other service in his power. this my brother-in-law afterwards told me in boston, but i knew as yet nothing of it; when, one day, keimer and i being at work together near the window, we saw the governor and another gentleman (which proved to be colonel french, of newcastle), finely dress'd, come directly across the street to our house, and heard them at the door.
11keimer ran down immediately, thinking it a visit to him; but the governor inquir'd for me, came up, and with a condescension of politeness i had been quite unus'd to, made me many compliments, desired to be acquainted with me, blam'd me kindly for not having made myself known to him when i first came to the place, and would have me away with him to the tavern, where he was going with colonel french to taste, as he said, some excellent madeira. i was not a little surprised, and keimer star'd like a pig poison'd. i went, however, with the governor and colonel french to a tavern, at the corner of third-street, and over the madeira he propos'd my setting up my business, laid before me the probabilities of success, and both he and colonel french assur'd me i should have their interest and influence in procuring the public business of both governments. on my doubting whether my father would assist me in it, sir william said he would give me a letter to him, in which he would state the advantages, and he did not doubt of prevailing with him. so it was concluded i should return to boston in the first vessel, with the governor's letter recommending me to my father. in the mean time the intention was to be kept a secret, and i went on working with keimer as usual, the governor sending for me now and then to dine with him, a very great honor i thought it, and conversing with me in the most affable, familiar, and friendly manner imaginable.
12about the end of april, 1724, a little vessel offer'd for boston. i took leave of keimer as going to see my friends. the governor gave me an ample letter, saying many flattering things of me to my father, and strongly recommending the project of my setting up at philadelphia as a thing that must make my fortune. we struck on a shoal in going down the bay, and sprung a leak; we had a blustering time at sea, and were oblig'd to pump almost continually, at which i took my turn. we arriv'd safe, however, at boston in about a fortnight. i had been absent seven months, and my friends had heard nothing of me; for my br. holmes was not yet return'd, and had not written about me. my unexpected appearance surpriz'd the family; all were, however, very glad to see me, and made me welcome, except my brother. i went to see him at his printing-house. i was better dress'd than ever while in his service, having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a watch, and my pockets lin'd with near five pounds sterling in silver. he receiv'd me not very frankly, look'd me all over, and turn'd to his work again.
13the journeymen were inquisitive where i had been, what sort of a country it was, and how i lik'd it. i prais'd it much, the happy life i led in it, expressing strongly my intention of returning to it; and, one of them asking what kind of money we had there, i produc'd a handful of silver, and spread it before them, which was a kind of raree-show they had not been us'd to, paper being the money of boston. then i took an opportunity of letting them see my watch; and, lastly (my brother still grum and sullen), i gave them a piece of eight to drink, and took my leave. this visit of mine offended him extreamly; for, when my mother some time after spoke to him of a reconciliation, and of her wishes to see us on good terms together, and that we might live for the future as brothers, he said i had insulted him in such a manner before his people that he could never forget or forgive it. in this, however, he was mistaken.
14my father received the governor's letter with some apparent surprise, but said little of it to me for some days, when capt. holmes returning he showed it to him, ask'd him if he knew keith, and what kind of man he was; adding his opinion that he must be of small discretion to think of setting a boy up in business who wanted yet three years of being at man's estate. holmes said what he could in favor of the project, but my father was clear in the impropriety of it, and at last gave a flat denial to it. then he wrote a civil letter to sir william, thanking him for the patronage he had so kindly offered me, but declining to assist me as yet in setting up, i being, in his opinion, too young to be trusted with the management of a business so important, and for which the preparation must be so expensive.
15my friend and companion collins, who was a clerk in the post-office, pleas'd with the account i gave him of my new country, determined to go thither also; and, while i waited for my father's determination, he set out before me by land to rhode island, leaving his books, which were a pretty collection of mathematicks and natural philosophy, to come with mine and me to new york, where he propos'd to wait for me.
16my father, tho' he did not approve sir william's proposition, was yet pleas'd that i had been able to obtain so advantageous a character from a person of such note where i had resided, and that i had been so industrious and careful as to equip myself so handsomely in so short a time; therefore, seeing no prospect of an accommodation between my brother and me, he gave his consent to my returning again to philadelphia, advis'd me to behave respectfully to the people there, endeavor to obtain the general esteem, and avoid lampooning and libeling, to which he thought i had too much inclination; telling me, that by steady industry and a prudent parsimony i might save enough by the time i was one-and-twenty to set me up; and that, if i came near the matter, he would help me out with the rest. this was all i could obtain, except some small gifts as tokens of his and my mother's love, when i embark'd again for new york, now with their approbation and their blessing.
17the sloop putting in at newport, rhode island, i visited my brother john, who had been married and settled there some years. he received me very affectionately, for he always lov'd me. a friend of his, one vernon, having some money due to him in pensilvania, about thirty-five pounds currency, desired i would receive it for him, and keep it till i had his directions what to remit it in. accordingly, he gave me an order. this afterwards occasion'd me a good deal of uneasiness.
18at newport we took in a number of passengers for new york, among which were two young women, companions, and a grave, sensible, matron-like quaker woman, with her attendants. i had shown an obliging readiness to do her some little services, which impress'd her i suppose 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, an 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.
19at 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 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.