the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第16章
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having to pay sometimes near thirty shillings a week on their account。
This； and my being esteem'd a pretty good riggite； that is； a jocular verbal
satirist； supported my consequence in the society。 My constant attendance
（I never making a St。 Monday） recommended me to the master； and my
uncommon quickness at composing occasioned my being put upon all
work of dispatch； which was generally better paid。 So I went on now very
agreeably。
〃A printing…house is always called a chapel by the workmen； the
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origin of which appears to have been that printing was first carried on in
England in an ancient chapel converted into a printing…house； and the title
has been preserved by tradition。 The bien venu among the printers answers
to the terms entrance and footing among mechanics； thus a journeyman；
on entering a printing…house； was accustomed to pay one or more gallons
of beer for the good of the chapel； this custom was falling into disuse
thirty years ago； it is very properly rejected entirely in the United States。〃…
…W。 T。 F。
My lodging in Little Britain being too remote； I found another in
Duke…street； opposite to the Romish Chapel。 It was two pair of stairs
backwards； at an Italian warehouse。 A widow lady kept the house； she had
a daughter； and a maid servant； and a journeyman who attended the
warehouse； but lodg'd abroad。 After sending to inquire my character at the
house where I last lodg'd she agreed to take me in at the same rate； 3s。 6d。
per week； cheaper； as she said； from the protection she expected in having
a man lodge in the house。 She was a widow； an elderly woman； had been
bred a Protestant； being a clergyman's daughter； but was converted to the
Catholic religion by her husband； whose memory she much revered； had
lived much among people of distinction； and knew a thousand anecdotes
of them as far back as the times of Charles the Second。 She was lame in
her knees with the gout； and； therefore； seldom stirred out of her room； so
sometimes wanted company； and hers was so highly amusing to me； that I
was sure to spend an evening with her whenever she desired it。 Our supper
was only half an anchovy each； on a very little strip of bread and butter；
and half a pint of ale between us； but the entertainment was in her
conversation。 My always keeping good hours； and giving little trouble in
the family； made her unwilling to part with me； so that； when I talk'd of a
lodging I had heard of；nearer my business； for two shillings a week； which；
intent as I now was on saving money； made some difference； she bid me
not think of it； for she would abate me two shillings a week for the future；
so I remained with her at one shilling and sixpence as long as I staid in
London。
In a garret of her house there lived a maiden lady of seventy； in the
most retired manner； of whom my landlady gave me this account： that she
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was a Roman Catholic； had been sent abroad when young； and lodg'd in a
nunnery with an intent of becoming a nun； but； the country not agreeing
with her； she returned to England； where； there being no nunnery； she had
vow'd to lead the life of a nun； as near as might be done in those
circumstances。 Accordingly； she had given all her estate to charitable uses；
reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on； and out of this sum she still
gave a great deal in charity； living herself on water…gruel only； and using
no fire but to boil it。 She had lived many years in that garret； being
permitted to remain there gratis by successive Catholic tenants of the
house below； as they deemed it a blessing to have her there。 A priest
visited her to confess her every day。 〃I have ask'd her；〃 says my landlady；
〃how she； as she liv'd； could possibly find so much employment for a
confessor？〃 〃Oh；〃 said she； 〃it is impossible to avoid vain thoughts。〃 I was
permitted once to visit her； She was chearful and polite； and convers'd
pleasantly。 The room was clean； but had no other furniture than a matras； a
table with a crucifix and book； a stool which she gave me to sit on； and a
picture over the chimney of Saint Veronica displaying her handkerchief；
with the miraculous figure of Christ's bleeding face on it； which she
explained to me with great seriousness。 She look'd pale； but was never
sick； and I give it as another instance on how small an income life and
health may be supported。
At Watts's printing…house I contracted an acquaintance with an
ingenious young man； one Wygate； who； having wealthy relations； had
been better educated than most printers； was a tolerable Latinist； spoke
French； and lov'd reading。 I taught him and a friend of his to swim at twice
going into the river； and they soon became good swimmers。 They
introduc'd me to some gentlemen from the country； who went to Chelsea
by water to see the College and Don Saltero's curiosities。 In our return； at
the request of the company； whose curiosity Wygate had excited； I stripped
and leaped into the river； and swam from near Chelsea to Blackfryar's；
performing on the way many feats of activity； both upon and under water；
that surpris'd and pleas'd those to whom they were novelties。
I had from a child been ever delighted with this exercise； had studied
and practis'd all Thevenot's motions and positions； added some of my own；
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aiming at the graceful and easy as well as the useful。 All these I took this
occasion of exhibiting to the company； and was much flatter'd by their
admiration； and Wygate； who was desirous of becoming a master； grew
more and more attach'd to me on that account； as well as from the
similarity of our studies。 He at length proposed to me travelling all over
Europe together； supporting ourselves everywhere by working at our
business。 I was once inclined to it； but； mentioning it to my good friend
Mr。 Denham； with whom I often spent an hour when I had leisure； he
dissuaded me from it； advising me to think only of returning to
Pennsilvania； which he was now about to do。
I must record one trait of this good man's character。 He had formerly
been in business at Bristol； but failed in debt to a number of people；
compounded and went to America。 There； by a close application to
business as a merchant； he acquir'd a plentiful fortune in a few years。
Returning to England in the ship with me； he invited his old creditors to an
entertainment； at which he thank'd them for the easy composition they had
favored him with； and； when they expected nothing but the treat； every
man at the first remove found under his plate an order on a banker for the
full amount of the unpaid remainder with interest。
He now told me he was about to return to Philadelphia； and should
carry
