ead resting on his left hand; and in that attitude
abiding the pelting of the pitiless storm."

Franklin, the agent of the colonies, stood in his humble place, calm and
undisturbed to all outward appearance, but he was cut to the quick as he
heard this assembly of representative Englishmen laughing at his
supposed dishonor.

Says one of that day, "At the sallies of the orator's sarcastic wit all
the members of the Council, the president himself not excepted,
frequently laughed outright."

Benjamin Franklin went home, and put away his spotted velvet coat. He
might want it again. It would be a reminder to him--a lesson of life.
He might wear it again some day.

The next day, being Sunday, the eminent Dr. Priestley came to take
breakfast with him.

Dr. Franklin said: "Let me read the arraignment twice over. I have never
before been so sensible of the power of a good conscience. If I had not
considered the thing for which I have been so much insulted the best
action of my life, and which I certainly should do again under like
circumstances, I could not have supported myself."

Franklin held an office under the crown. On Monday morning a letter was
brought to him from the postmaster-general. It read:

"The king finds it necessary to dismiss you from the office of deputy
postmaster-general in America."

Dismissed in disgrace at the age of sixty-eight! And England laughing.
He had nothing left to comfort him now but his conscience--that was the
everything.

The old spotted velvet coat; he brought it out on the day of the treaty.
It was some nine or more years old now. He stood like a culprit in it
one day; it should adorn him now in the hour of his honor.

He was facing eighty years.

He prepared to leave France, where his career had been one of such honor
and glory that his fame filled the world.

The court made him a parting present. It was a portrait of the king set
in a frame of _four hundred diamonds_!

CHAPTER XL.

IN SERVICE AGAIN.

IT has been said that Franklin forgot to be old. Verging upon eighty, he
had asked to be recalled from France, and he dreamed of quiet old age
among his grandchildren on the banks of the Schuylkill, where so many
happy years of his middle life had been spent. He was recalled from
France, but, as we have before stated, this was an age in America when
men sought the councils of wisdom and experience.

Pennsylvania needed a President or Governor who could lay the
f