or any one to assist him.
I endeavored to put his press in order, which he had not yet used, and
of which indeed he understood nothing; and, having promised to come and
work off his elegy as soon as it should be ready, I returned to the
house of Bradford, who gave me some trifles to do for the present, for
which I had my board and lodging.

"In a few days Keimer sent for me to print off his elegy. He had now
procured another set of letter cases, and had a pamphlet to reprint,
upon which he set me to work.

"The two Philadelphia printers appeared destitute of every qualification
necessary in their profession. Bradford had not been brought up to it,
and was very illiterate. Keimer, though he understood a little of the
business, was merely a compositor, and wholly incapable of working at
press. He had been one of the French prophets, and knew how to imitate
their supernatural agitations. At the time of our first acquaintance he
professed no particular religion, but a little of all upon occasion. He
was totally ignorant of the world, and a great knave at heart, as I had
afterward an opportunity of experiencing.

"Keimer could not endure that, working with him, I should lodge at
Bradford's. He had indeed a house, but it was unfurnished, so that he
could not take me in. He procured me a lodging at Mr. Read's, his
landlord, whom I have already mentioned. My trunk and effects being now
arrived, I thought of making, in the eyes of Miss Read, a more
respectable appearance than when chance exhibited me to her view, eating
my roll and wandering in the streets.

"From this period I began to contract acquaintance with such young
people as were fond of reading, and spent my evenings with them
agreeably, while at the same time I gained money by my industry, and,
thanks to my frugality, lived contentedly. I thus forgot Boston as much
as possible, and wished every one to be ignorant of the place of my
residence, except my friend Collins, to whom I wrote, and who kept my
secret.

"An accident, however, happened which sent me home much sooner than I
proposed. I had a brother-in-law, of the name of Robert Holmes, master
of a trading sloop from Boston to Delaware. Being at Newcastle, forty
miles below Philadelphia, he heard of me, and wrote to inform me of the
chagrin which my sudden departure from Boston had occasioned my parents,
and of the affection which they still entertained for me, assuring me
that, if I would return, everything