is his “Autobiography.”  This book is “one of the half dozen most widely popular books ever printed,” and has been published in nearly every written language.  Franklin founded the American Philosophical Society, and established an institution which has since grown into the University of Pennsylvania.  His life is a noble example of the results of industry and perseverance, and his death was the occasion of public mourning. ###

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 rowed 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 arrived 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 clothes being to come round by sea.  I was dirty from my journey; my pockets were stuffed out with shirts and stockings, and I knew no soul nor where to look for lodging.  I was fatigued with traveling, 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 refused 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 through 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 Second Street, and asked for biscuit, intending such as we had in Boston:  but they, it seems, were not made in Philadelphia.  Then I asked for a threepenny 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 bade him give threepenny worth of any sort.  He gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls.  I was surprised at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my pockets, walked off with a roll under each arm, and eating the other.