through
promises of financial help from influential parties, he sailed to London
for the purpose of buying the necessary requisites for a printing
office. Not until his arrival in that great city, London, did he learn
of the groundlessness of his hope for aid from the expected quarter. In
a strange land, friendless and alone, without money to pay his return
passage, such was his predicament; yet he lost not his courage, but
obtained employment as a printer, writing his betrothed that he should
likely never return to America. His stay in London lasted, however, but
about eighteen months, during which time he succeeded in reforming some
of his beer-drinking companions.

In 1826 he returned to America as a dry-goods clerk, but the death of
his employer fortunately turned his attention once more to his especial
calling, and he soon after formed a partnership with a Mr. Meredith.
This was in 1728. Miss Reed, during his stay abroad, had been induced to
marry another man who proved to be a scoundrel; leaving her to escape
punishment for debt, and, it is alleged, with an indictment for bigamy
hanging over his head. Franklin attributed much of this misfortune to
himself, and resolved to repair the injury so far as lay within his
power. Accordingly he married her in 1830. This proved a most happy
union. His business connection with Mr. Meridith being dissolved, he
purchased the miserably conducted sheet of Mr. Keimer, his former
employer, and under Franklin's management it became a somewhat
influential journal of opinion.

It was through this channel that those homely sayings, with such rich
meanings, first appeared in print. His great intelligence, industry and
ingenuity in devising reforms, and the establishment of the first
circulating library, soon won for him the esteem of the entire country.
1732 is memorable as the year in which appeared his almanac in which was
published the sayings of the world-famous 'Poor Richard.' This almanac
abounded with aphorisms and quaint sayings, the influence of which
tended mightily to economy, and it was translated into foreign
languages, in fact was the most popular almanac ever printed.

After ten years' absence he returned to his native city, Boston, and his
noble instincts were shown, as he consolingly promised his dying brother
that he would care for his nephew, his brother's son. Returning to
Philadelphia he became postmaster of that city, established a fire
department, becomes a me