238 November 1748. 



fit for fpinning. But he did not venture to de- 

 termine how far this opinion was grounded. On 

 this occafion he related a very pleafant accident 

 which happened to him with this mountain flax : 

 he had, feveral years ago, got a piece of it, which 

 he gave to one of his journeymen printers, in 

 order to get it made into a fheet at the paper mill. 

 As foon as the fellow brought the paper, Mr. 

 Branklin rolled it up, and threw it into the fire, 

 telling the journeyman he would fee a miracle, a 

 fheet of paper which did not burn : the ignorant 

 fellow afferted the contrary, but was greatly afto- 

 nifhed upon feeing himfelf convinced. Mr. 

 Franklin then explained to him, though not very 

 clearly, the peculiar qualities of the paper. As 

 fbon as he was gone, fome of his acquaintance 

 came in, who immediately knew the paper. The 

 journeyman thought he would fhew them a great 

 curiofity and aftonifli them. He accordingly 

 told them, that he had curioufly made a flieet of 

 paper which would not burn, though it was 

 thrown into the fire. They pretended to think it 

 impoflible, and he as ftrenuoufly maintained his 

 afiertion. At laft they laid a wager about it ; 

 but whilft he was bufy with flirring up the fire, 

 the others ilyly befmeared the paper with fat : the 

 journeyman, who was not aware of it, threw it 

 into the fire, and that moment it was all in 

 flames : this aftonifhed him fo much, that he was 

 almoft fpeechlefs ; upon which they could not 

 help laughing, and fo difcovered the whole arti- 

 fice. 



IN feveral houfes of the town, a number of lit- 

 tle Antt run about, living under ground, and in 



holes 



