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RIVERS AND LIFE

It wont take me long to get ready; have been arranging matters for some time with reference to going, though have

spoken to no one about it. Ralph was careful not to divulge the real reason of his going, lest Benjamin should

disapprove. At length it was announced that the Landon Hope Captain Annis, master, would sail about the th of

November. And now, Benjamin was full of business. He made known his intentions to Keimer and other friends,

without disclosing the real object of his trip, or that he was going under the patronage of Governor Keith.

Considerable surprise and regret were expressed by several friends that he was going, and yet they were free to say

that it would prove an excellent school for such a young man as Benjamin. Governor Keith was lavish in his

attentions and interest. You will want letters of introduction from me; and shall have some instructions, which willwrite out carefully, he said. The letters will he indispensable; and the instructions shall most surely need to relieve

my lack of experience, Benjamin replied. I will have them all ready two or three days before Captain Annis sails,

added the governor, and you can for them, may want to see you again before get them ready, and will send for

you. Benjamin thanked Governor Keith for his great kindness, assuring him that he should always feel himself under

a heavy debt of gratitude, never dreaming that the scheming politician was luring him into a snare. He put his whole

heart and soul into preparation to leave. To him it was the great event of his life; and it would have been, if Sir

William Keith had been an honest man instead of a rogue. For an American youth, eighteen years of age, to

represent the governor of Pennsylvania in the city of London, to consummate a business enterprise of the greatest

importance to a thriving American town, was an unusual occurrence. Any youth of considerable ability and ambition

must have realized the value and dignity of the enterprise; but to such a youth as Benjamin was, talented, aspiring,

coveting success, striving for the best, the opportunity of this business enterprise, proposed and patronized by thehighest officer in the colony, must have appealed strongly to his manly and noble nature. We shall see, however, as

it turned out, that all the honesty and high minded purpose that invested it was in Benjamin's soul. Treachery,

dishonesty, and perfidy blackened the soul of his patron, loading him down with infamy almost without a parallel.

Three days before Captain Annis set sail, Benjamin called for his letters. My time has been so thoroughly occupied

by public business that have not been able to prepare them, but will attend to it. I can call again without any

trouble, answered Benjamin, exceedingly grateful for the governor's patronage. I am sorry that have not been able

to prepare them; but will not disappoint you again. Call day after to morrow. The more the governor said and

promised, the more thankful Benjamin felt that he had fallen into such generous hands. I will call in the afternoon,

day after to morrow, replied Benjamin; and thanking him again for his great kindness, took his leave. He called as he

promised for the letters and other papers. Instead of being ushered into the governor's presence, as usual, his

secretary, Colonel French, came out to announce: The governor regrets exceedingly that he has not the documents

ready yet, and desires that you shall call again to morrow, just before the vessel sails. Very well, will call, replied

Benjamin, without the least suspicion that any trouble was brewing for him. On the next day, with all his baggage on

board, and the good bye said to all his friends, he hastened to the governor's head quarters for his papers. Again

Colonel French met him with the announcement: The governor desires me to say that he is really ashamed to

disappoint you again; but a constant pressure of business has prevented. But the vessel will stop at Newcastle, and

he will meet you and deliver yours with other letters he has to send; and he hopes that you will have a pleasant

voyage and meet with great success. Pease convey my thanks to him for his many kindnesses and present good

wishes, answered Benjamin, and say to him that will execute his commands to the very best of my ability, and report

at the earliest possible time. So saying, Benjamin returned and boarded the vessel, which soon dropped down the

Delaware, thinking all the while of his good fortune in having so great and good a man as Governor Keith for his

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