One day not long after that, when Franklin was at work in Keimer’s printing-office, the governor came to see him.  Franklin was very much surprised.

The governor offered to set him up in a business of his own.  He promised that he should have all the public printing in the province.

“But you will have to go to England to buy your types and whatever else you may need.”

Franklin agreed to do this.  But he must first return to Boston and get his father’s consent and assistance.

The governor gave him a letter to carry to his father.  In a few weeks he was on his way home.

You may believe that Benjamin’s father and mother were glad to see him.  He had been gone seven months, and in all that time they had not heard a word from him.

His brothers and sisters were glad to see him, too—­all but the printer, James, who treated him very unkindly.

His father read the governor’s letter, and then shook his head.

“What kind of a man is this Governor Keith?” he asked.  “He must have but little judgment to think of setting up a mere boy in business of this kind.”

After that he wrote a letter of thanks to the governor.  He said that he was grateful for the kindness he had shown to his son, and for his offer to help him.  But he thought that Benjamin was still too young to be trusted with so great a business, and therefore he would not consent to his undertaking it.  As for helping him, that he could not do; for he had but little more money than was needed to carry on his own affairs.

* * * * *

IX.—­THE RETURN TO PHILADELPHIA.

Benjamin Franklin felt much disappointed when his father refused to help send him to England.  But he was not discouraged.

In a few weeks he was ready to return to Philadelphia.  This time he did not have to run away from home.

His father blessed him, and his mother gave him many small gifts as tokens of her love.

“Be diligent,” said his father, “attend well to your business, and save your money carefully, and, perhaps, by the time you are twenty-one years old, you will be able to set up for yourself without the governor’s help.”

All the family, except James the printer, bade him a kind good-bye, as he went on board the little ship that was to take him as far as New York.

There was another surprise for him when he reached New York.

The governor of New York had heard that there was a young man from Boston on board the ship, and that he had a great many books.

There were no large libraries in New York at that time.  There were no bookstores, and but few people who cared for books.

So the governor sent for Franklin to come and see him.  He showed him his own library, and they had a long talk about books and authors.

This was the second governor that had taken notice of Benjamin.  For a poor boy, like him, it was a great honor, and very pleasing.