," answered the young printer.

"Then I will provide for your journey. You shall go with Captain Annis."
This captain sailed yearly from Philadelphia to London.

Waiting the sailing of the ship months passed away. Governor Keith
entertained the young printer at his home. The sailing time came.
Franklin went to the office of the Governor to receive the letter of
credit and promised letters of introduction.

"All in good time, my boy," said the Governor's clerk, "but the Governor
is busy and can not see you now. If you will call on Wednesday you will
receive the letters."

Young Franklin called at the office on the day appointed.

"All in good time, my boy," said the clerk. "The Governor has not had
time to fix them up and get them ready. They will be sent to you on
board the ship with the Governor's mail."

So Franklin went on board the ship. As the Governor's mail came on board
he asked the captain to let him see the letters, but the latter told him
that he must wait until the ship got under way.

Out at sea the Governor's letters were shown to him. There were several
directed to people "in the care of Benjamin Franklin." He supposed these
contained notes of introduction and the letter of credit, so he passed
happily over the sea.

He reached London December 24, 1724. He rushed into the grand old city
bearing the letters directed in his care. He took the one deemed most
important to the office of the gentleman to whom it was directed. "This
letter is from Governor Keith, of the Province of Pennsylvania," said
Franklin.

"I know of no such person," said the man. The latter opened the letter.
"Oh, I see," said he, "it is from one Riddleson. I have found him out to
be a rascal, an exile, and refuse to entertain any communication from
him."

Franklin's face fell. His heart turned heavy. He went out wondering.
"Was his father's advice sound, after all?"

The rest of the letters that had been directed in his care were not
written by Governor Keith, but by people in the province to their
friends, of which he had been made a postboy. There were in the mail no
letters of introduction from Governor Keith to any one, and no letter of
credit.

He found himself alone in London, that great wilderness of homes. Of
Keith's conduct he thus speaks in his autobiography:

"What shall we think of a Governor playing such pitiful tricks, and
imposing so grossly upon a poor ignorant boy? It was a habit he had
acquired; he wish