I considered, according to my master Tryon, the taking every fish
as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had nor could
do us any injury that might justify this massacre. All this
seemed very reasonable. But I had been formerly a great lover of
fish, and when it came out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably
well. I balanced some time between principle and inclination,
till recollecting that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller
fish taken out of their stomachs; then, thought I, 'If you eat
one another, I don't see why we may not eat you.' So I dined upon
cod very heartily, and have since continued to eat as other
people; returning only now and then to a vegetable diet. So
convenient a thing it is to be a _reasonable creature_, since it
enables one to find or make a _reason_ for everything one has a
mind to do."

The time was now approaching for the Annis to sail, and Benjamin began
to realize the trial of leaving his friends. A new tie now bound him
to Philadelphia. A mutual affection existed between Miss Read and
himself, and it had ripened into sincere and ardent love. He desired a
formal engagement with her before his departure, but her mother
interposed.

"Both of you are too young," said she,--"only eighteen! You cannot
tell what changes may occur before you are old enough to be married."

"But that need not have anything to do with an engagement," said
Benjamin. "We only pledge ourselves to marry each other at some future
time."

"And why do you deem such a pledge necessary?" asked the good mother.

"Simply because 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,'"
replied Benjamin, with his face all wreathed with smiles.

"But I have not quite satisfied myself that it is best to give up my
daughter to a printer," added Mrs. Read.

"How so?" asked Benjamin, with some anxiety.

"Because," she replied, "there are already several printing-offices in
the country, and I doubt whether another can be supported."

"If I cannot support her by the printing business," answered Benjamin,
"then I will do it some other way."

"I have no doubt of your good intentions; but you may not realize the
fulfilment of all your hopes. I think you had better leave the matter
as it is until you return from England, and see how you are
prospered."

The old lady won the day, and the young couple agreed to proceed no
further at present.

The ab