Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-06-10
THE SILVER SIxPENcE.

llClle boy 10 a group of gaiIy dressed
urchinS, as he came up from market
street wharf, 10 Philadelphia lido you
see here, Ive got silver Sixpence. y
They all set up hearty laugh. -
"Why," said Jeremiah Budd, whose
father was weslthy ship master, "l
have six dollars to spend on Christmss,
and that fellow is proud of a six
pence"
Theodore heard it, and looking
thoughtGully upon the ground for a
moment; then fecOIIecting himself,
six dollars to spend,' muttered he,
"but sixpence to keep is better than
that"
Theodore kept his sixpence in his
pocket, carefully wrapped up, for seve
raj weeks, when one day, his uncle,
who keeps a fruit shop at the corner
ofthe alley where helived said 10 him,
"Theodore, your slxpence don't grow
in your pocket, you should plant il" !"
The little boy understood him bet
ter, when he told him he might buy
some fruit, in the market with it, and
stand in his shop and sell il out again,
He embraced the offer; doubled his
money the first day, and went on un.
til he had as much fruit 10 sell as he
had room for in his little corner.
His Incle observing the thrifty, and
withal honest turn Of the boy, finally
took him into his store as an assistant; {;
and allowed him to trade sundry spe,
cited articles on his own account.
The closest attention to business; the
most careful management of his small
funds, and that run of good luck, as it
is called, which generally runs with
those who are saving, industrious, and
prudent, in The course Of three or four
years, enabled him to go into full part
nership with his uncle, and to extend
his business, and double his former
amouht.
Having trimmed his sails right a,
first, ii became kind Of second ma,
ture with Theodore TO keep what
Sailors call close 10 lhe wind; and he
made head way astonishihgly now.
Soon after he was 81, he was able 10
buy out the whole stock ola dry goods
merchant, and to go into business on
his own account entirely. Still he
prospered, and became an importer,
changed, finally, his business for
wholesale concern; embarked in the
India trade; and al last married fine
girl, whose fortune was little inferior
10 his own; and it was said after that
occurrence he was worth not less than
half a million,
Theodore now lived In an elegant
dldnsion in Arch street, kept his car
riage, and had every thing ih pretty
styIej and yet attended as usual 10 his
Business. That he might never lose
sight of his good fortune, the silver six
pence was blended with the arms on
lhe carriages 1t formed the seal with
which he stamped his letters, and be
had one Of The coins-he used 10 sa !
lhe very identical one he FIRST owned
fastened upon his desk in his coun
ting room. Remembering thus con
stantly thai by small means he ha:
risen, he still; amid much we'll bestow
ed charity, and in the constant rrsc
tice Of true benevOlence; lOoRed wei
10 small things, and never forgot how
10 reckon pence as we'll as pounds.
Thus smoothly were TheodOre's al
fairs going forward, when one sdIlrJ
summers day, just as he entered hi
counting room, thin, squaIid figure
presented himself at the counter, ant
asked for employment. He wore
thread. bare suit Of black, an old hat
and his shoes were almost ready Il
drop from his feet. SIN what caPac
u" asked Theodore, ,"dO you wish TO
employment" =
1In any capscity," was The reply
Hbut, SIR" continued the stranger
wiping a tear from the eye with hi
coat sleeve, "my father was a mer
chant, and he brought me up to hi
profession; should, therefore, be gla'
for employment as a clerk. -"
Theodore looked at him closely
lie thought he saw some lineamen
he remembered.
"What's yodr namef" he asked.
The stranger hesitated a moment
hung down his head, and replied in
low Voice-"JeremiGh Budd."
"Ah;" said Theodore; recollectin
him instantly, sand you have got cle'
Of your six dollars, long ago, | fancy
jeremiah" J
10y ~ - 4. .4-:,L aidh