. Benjamin Franklin: his autobiography : with a narrative of his public life and services. venty, in the most retired manner, of whommy landlady gave me this account: that she was aRoman Catholic, had been sent abroad when young,and lodged in a nunnery with an intent of becominga nun; but, the country not agreeing with her, shereturned to England, where, there being no nunnery,she had vowed to lead the hfe of a nun, as near asmight be done in those circumstances. According-ly, she had given all her estate to charitable purposes,reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on, andout of this sum
. Benjamin Franklin: his autobiography : with a narrative of his public life and services. venty, in the most retired manner, of whommy landlady gave me this account: that she was aRoman Catholic, had been sent abroad when young,and lodged in a nunnery with an intent of becominga nun; but, the country not agreeing with her, shereturned to England, where, there being no nunnery,she had vowed to lead the hfe of a nun, as near asmight be done in those circumstances. According-ly, she had given all her estate to charitable purposes,reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on, andout of this sum she still gave a part in charity, livingherself on water-gruel only, and using no fire but toboil it. She had lived many years in that garret,being permitted to remain there gratis by successiveCatholic tenants of the house below, as they deem-ed it a blessing to have her there. A priest visitedher to confess her every day. From this I askedher, said my landlady, how she, as she lived, couldpossibly find so much employment for a confessor ? Oh, said she, it is impossible to avoid vain. LIFE OF FRANKLIN. 83 tlwughts! I was permitted once to visit her. Shewas cheerful and poUte, and conversed room was clean, but had no other furniture thana mattress, a table with a crucifix, and a book, astool which she gave me to sit on, and a pictureover the chimney of Saint Veronica displayingher handkerchief, with the miraculous figure ofChrists bleeding face on it, which she explained tome with great seriousness. She looked pale, butwas never sick; and I give it as another instanceon how small an income life and health may be sup-ported. At Wattss printing-house I contracted an ac-quaintance with an ingenious young man, one Wy-gate, who, having wealthy relations, had been bettereducated than most printers ; was a tolerable Latin-ist, spoke French, and loved reading. I taught himand a friend of his to swim at twice going into theriver, and they soon became good swimmers. Theyi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjec, booksubjectstatesmen
