early struggle, he was wheeling some printing paper
in a wheelbarrow along the streets toward his office when he heard the
tap, tap, tap of an old man's cane.

He looked around. It was the cane of old Mr. Calamity. This man had
advised him not to begin publishing.

"Young man----"

"Good morning, sir. I hope it finds you well."

"It must be hard times when an editor has to carry his printing paper in
a wheelbarrow."

"The oracle said, 'Leave no stone unturned if you would find success.'"

"Well, my young friend, if there is anybody that obeys the oracle in
Pennsylvania it is you. You dress plainly; you do not indulge in many
luxuries; you attend the societies and clubs that seek information; you
ought to succeed, but you won't."

The old man lifted his cane and brought it down on the flagging stones
with a pump.

"You won't, _now_!"

He stood still for a moment to add to the impression of his words.

"What is this I hear? The province is about to issue paper money? What
did I tell you long ago? This is an age of rags. Paper money is rags.
Governor Keith's affairs have all gone to ruin; it is unfortunate that
he went away. And you are going to print the paper money for the
province, are you? Listen to me: in a few years it will not be worth the
paper it is printed on, and you will be glad to follow the example of
Governor Keith, and get out of Philadelphia. The times are hard, but
they are going to be harder. What hope is there for such a man as you?"

Franklin set down his wheelbarrow.

"My good sir, I am doing honest work. It will tell--I have confidence
that it will tell."

"Tell! Tell who?"

"The world."

"The world! The owls have not yet ceased to hoot in woods around
Philadelphia, and he has a small world that is bounded by the hoot of an
owl."

"My father used to say that he who is diligent in his business shall
stand before kings," quoting the Scripture.

"Well, you may be as honest and as diligent in your business as you
will, it is a small chance that you will ever have of standing before
kings. What are you standing before now?--a wheelbarrow. That is as far
as you have got. A promising young man it must be to stand before a
wheelbarrow and talk about standing before kings!"

"But, sir, I ought not to be standing before a wheelbarrow. I ought to
be going on and coining time."

"Well, go right along; you are on the way to Poverty Corner, and you
will not need any guide post to find it;