Part 20 (1/2)
”No, you are not exactly drunk; but then you are disguised with liquor, and I am utterly astonished Once you was as te man in Boston, and far more respected than most of them How did it happen that you formed this evil habit?”
Collins saw that he could not deceive Benjamin; so he made a clean breast of the matter, and confessed to have formed intemperate habits soon after Benjamin first left Boston He said that his appetite for brandy was strong, and that he had been intoxicated every day since his arrival in New York
”I have lost allto pay my bills”
”Lost your money!” exclaiaambler, too?”
”Yes, if you will have it so,” answered Collins, somewhat coolly; ”and you must lend me money to pay my bills”
”If I had known this,” continued Benjamin, ”I would not have persuaded you to leave Boston And here let me tell you, that it is impossible for you to find a situation unless you reform”
”Perhaps so,” answered Collins; ”but that is not the question now that interests me I want to knohether you will lend o on ht I see,” replied Benjamin ”I should not leave you here without money and friends, of course, for that would be cruel
But youht have become one of the first scholars of his day, had he enjoyed the advantages of a course of study Soymen of Boston showed him much attention on account of his abilities and love of books But strong drink blasted his hopes
In New York, Benja him to call at his house This was quite as unexpected as the visit of Governor Keith, and he began to think that governors had a passionate regard for him He found, however, that the Governor had learned fro e number of books from Boston This interested the Governor, and was the occasion of his sending the aforesaid invitation to Benjamin
He accepted the invitation, and would have taken Collins with him if the latter had been sober Governor Burnet received hie library, and conversed freely about books and authors for soreeable interview to Benjamin, the more so because it was the second tiht him out, and showed him attention
They proceeded to Philadelphia On the way Benjamin collected Vernon's debt, which proved fortunate, since otherwise hishad the bills of two to pay A good trip brought them safely to their place of destination, and Collins boarded with Benja in so-room
The reader may be curious to learn the fate of Collins, and ill briefly record it here He tried to secure a situation, but his dra habits frustrated his exertions Every few days he went to Benja that he had that of Vernon, always pro to pay as soon as he found business Benjamin, in the kindness of his heart, lent him little by little, until he was troubled to knohat he should do if Vernon should call for the money Sometimes he lectured Collins severely for his habits, until their friendshi+p was essentiallymen, on the Delaware, when Collins refused to row
”We shall not row you,” said Benjaht on the water, just as you please,” retorted Collins
”We can stay as long as you can,” continued Benjamin ”I shall not row you”
”Co men ”If he don't want to row let him sit still”
”Row him, if you wish to,” replied Benjamin, ”I shall not”
”Yes, you will,” shouted Collins, starting from his seat ”I will be rowed home, and you shall help do it, or I will throw you overboard;”
and he hurried to execute his threat But, as he came up and struck at hi, threw hiood swi
”Will you ro?” he inquired, as Collins swarily; whereupon they sent the boat forward out of his reach, with one or two strokes of the oar Again and again they allowed him to approach the boat, when they repeated the question: ”Will you promise to row?” and as often received an e that he was quite exhausted, they drew hi from him a promise to row
This scene closed the intimate relations of Benjaether civilly afterward Collins sailed for Barbadoes within a feeeks after, and he was never heard froain
He probably died there, a miserable sot, and Benjamin lost all the money he lent him In later life, Benjamin Franklin referred to this event, and spoke of hi received retribution for his influence over Collins For, when they were so intiious opinions by advocating doubts about the reality of religion, until Collins becah sceptic