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About the end of April, 1724, a little vessel offer'd for Boston.
约在1724年4月底，一只开往波士顿的小船来了。
I took leave of Keimer as going to see my friends.
我辞别了凯谋，只说是去访友。
The governor gave me an ample letter, saying many flattering things of me to my father, and strongly recommending the project of my setting up at Philadelphia as a thing that must make my fortune.
州长给我一封厚厚的信，信中向我父亲说了许多恭维我的话，大力地推荐我在费城开业的计划，认为这一事业必然会使我发迹。
We struck on a shoal in going down the bay, and sprung a leak; we had a blustering time at sea, and were oblig'd to pump almost continually, at which I took my turn.
我们的船在驶入海湾时碰上了沙洲，发生了裂缝，这时候海上波涛汹涌，我们必须几乎继续不停地抽水，我也轮流值班抽水。
We arriv'd safe, however, at Boston in about a fortnight.
但是，大约经过了两个星期的时光，我们平安地到达了波士顿。
I had been absent seven months, and my friends had heard nothing of me; for my br. Holmes was not yet return'd, and had not written about me.
到那时我已经离开波城七个月了，我的亲友们一点也没有听到关于我的消息，因为我姐夫荷麦斯还没有回来，也没有写信提到我。
My unexpected appearance surpris'd the family; all were, however, very glad to see me, and made me welcome, except my brother.
我之意外地出现在他们面前，使得全家惊异，但是大家看到我都很快乐，除了我哥哥外，大家都款待我。
I went to see him at his printing-house.
我到他的印刷铺里去看他。
I was better dress'd than ever while in his service, having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a watch, and my pockets lin'd with near five pounds sterling in silver.
这时我的衣着比我在他那里当学徒期间的任何时候都考究，我从头到脚穿了一套新的时髦的西装，挂了一只表，口袋里装了差不多五英镑的银币。
He receiv'd me not very frankly, look'd me all over, and turn'd to his work again.
他勉强地接见了我，把我从头到脚打量了一番，然后又去工作去了。
The journeymen were inquisitive where I had been, what sort of a country it was, and how I lik'd it.
店里的职工们想知道我一直在什么地方，我到的是一个什么样子的地方，我喜欢不喜欢那地方。
I prais'd it much, and the happy life I led in it, expressing strongly my intention of returning to it;
我对那地方和我在那里的愉快生活，大加赞扬，强调表示我打算回去的意图。
and, one of them asking what kind of money we had there, I produc'd a handful of silver, and spread it before them, which was a kind of raree-show they had not been us'd to, paper being the money of Boston.
他们中间有一个人问我们在那里有什么样子的钱，我就拿出了一把银币，摊在他们面前，这种银币是他们从来没有见过的奇观，因为在波士顿通用的是纸币。
Then I took an opportunity of letting them see my watch; and, lastly (my brother still grum and sullen), I gave them a piece of eight to drink, and took my leave.
接着我又乘机让他们看看我的表，最后（我哥哥仍然绷着脸显得怪不高兴的）我送了他们一块钱去买点酒喝，就告辞了。
This visit of mine offended him extreamly; for, when my mother some time after spoke to him of a reconciliation, and of her wishes to see us on good terms together, and that we might live for the future as brothers,
我这次探望使他大为不快，因为，当我母亲过了一些时候向他提起和解，并表示希望看到我们和睦地相处在一起，在将来还能手足相处的时候，
he said I had insulted him in such a manner before his people that he could never forget or forgive it.
他说我曾在他的职工面前用一种使他永远不能忘记或是饶恕的方式侮辱了他。
In this, however, he was mistaken.
但是，这一点他却弄错了。
My father received the governor's letter with some apparent surprise, but said little of it to me for some days,
我父亲对于州长的信显然表示有点惊奇，但是他对我好几天不提这件事。
when Capt. Holmes returning he show'd it to him, asked him if he knew Keith, and what kind of man he was;
当荷麦斯船主回来时，他就拿信给他看，问他是否认识基夫，他是什么样子的一种人。
adding his opinion that he must be of small discretion to think of setting a boy up in business who wanted yet three years of being at man's estate.
他又表示他的意见，说此人考虑事情一定不很周到，他竟想叫一个离开成年还差三岁的男孩子去开业。
Holmes said what he could in favour of the project, but my father was clear in the impropriety of it, and at last, gave a flat denial to it.
荷麦斯尽力表示赞同这计划，但是我父亲确实地认为这计划是不合式的，最后他直截了当地否决了它。
Then he wrote a civil letter to Sir William, thanking him for the patronage he had so kindly offered me,
然后他给威廉爵士写了一封措辞婉转的信，感谢他对我的恩惠和栽培，
but declining to assist me as yet in setting up, I being, in his opinion, too young to be trusted with the management of a business so important, and for which the preparation must be so expensive.
但是表示他还不能资助我开业，因为他觉得我年纪还太小，他不能信赖我经营管理这样一种需要巨额开办费的重大企业。
