HIS CHILDHOOD AND EARLY HOME. 13 



Benjamin Franklin, of Philadelphia. I am travelling to 

 Boston, and my horse appears to have some business with 

 you, as he has insisted upon coming to your house." " Oh, 

 sir," replied Mr. Eells, " that horse has often been here 

 before. Pray alight and come in and lodge with us to- 

 night." The invitation so cordially given was as frankly 

 accepted, and it resulted in a permanent friendship ; and 

 Dr. Franklin, whenever he travelled that road, found here 

 a welcome and a happy home. He used to remark that he 

 believed he was the only man who was ever introduced by 

 his horse. This anecdote I had from my mother. The 

 two ministers were six miles apart. 



In our progress through Stoningtcn we were everywhere 

 greeted warmly by the people, who were rejoiced to see the 

 only surviving child of their revered and beloved minister, 

 with two of her sons. The population were principally 



substantial farmers There were few public roads, 



but many private avenues to the farm-houses. Often I dis- 

 mounted to let down the bars, or to open the great gate ; 

 and sometimes the final access to the house was over a 

 stile 



People in those days were not so much hurried as now ; 

 there was more leisure in the family, and personal friend- 

 ship was cherished often through long lives. Thus my 

 mother through life cultivated the kind regard of some per- 

 sons belonging to her father's pastoral charge. I remem- 

 ber her correspondence with Miss Hannah Fellows, of 

 Stonington, a single lady, whose friendship she highly val- 

 ued and retained through life. Those who were born and 

 educated under the primitive influence of New-England 

 sentiments and manners, when population was yet sparse 

 and personal friendships still partook of the simplicity and 

 sincerity of colonial manners, the good people of that 

 early era, appear to have felt and cherished the social 

 sentiments as a part of their nature, and the hospitality 

 which characterized that state of society offered a welcome 



