The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-11-02
THE SILVER SIXPENCE.

i't'ic ooy I" group oi young, SaIiV
dressed urchins, as he came up from
Market street wharf, in Philadelphia;
''Do YOU sec hcrc--Ivc q silver six
pcncc!'
They all set up hearty laugh
"Why," said jeremiah Budd, whose
father was wealthy shipper, 81 have
got six silver dollars to spend on Christ
mas, and that fellow is proud of Il six
pcncs"
Theodore heard it, and looked
lh"uyh,inlly on the ground Corsa mo-
mcnt; then rrc"llccting himself, Six
dollars to xpend," mutlcrvd he; "bul
sixpcncc to keep is better than that"
Theodore kept his sixrcncc III his
pocket, carefully wrapped up, FIR scv
cral weeks; Wien cue day his uncle,
whn kept fruit shop at the corner of
the alley where he lived, said to him,
-"I!r'"derc, your siXpencc A..m',
grow any in your pocket; you should
paut IT,"
The little boy understood him bet
ter when he told him, if he pleased he
might buy some fruit in the market
with it, and stand in his Shop and sell
it out again. lie cn,praccd the offer
doubled his money the next day
and went ON until he had no room for
his increased stock in his little corner
Ills uncle, ot>crvin" The thrifty and,
wi'hal, homes, lu'n OF the BOY, finally
to.k him into his store as an assist
ant, Il Il allowed him privilege to trade
in sundry specified articles ON his own
account. The closest attention to bus
mass, IL" mos! caret!!! management
q his small funds. and the run ut' good
luck, as it is called, which generally
runs to those VIII" are saving. industri.
oas, and prudent, in the course of three
or tour years ,nailcd him t" go into
partnership with his uncle, and to cx.
tend his business /" double his former
amount.
Having trimmed Lis sails right at
first, it became Il kind of second nature
with Theodore, to keep what sailors
would call close to the land, and he
made Roadway ast"m!shingIy now
Soon alter hr WAS twenly.o,ic hc was
enabled to i,uy ont the whole stock of
u dryg""dS merchant, and 60 int" bus
mess Hl his own account cutirclv.-
Still he rrosprrcd-c",umcnccd i'm
rortin. changcd his business finally
for Il Wholesale c"ncrril-cu kru in
HE lml.a ,rndc-and ut last married Il
fine @iIl, whose fortune was but IL little
interior t" his ow',; and it WAS said af-
ter that occurrence he Was not worth
less than half Il million.
Thc"L.rc. now lived in an elegant
house in Arch street, kept his carriage,
and had everything in pretty style; yet
he attended to his business. That he
might never lose sight Of his good for
tune, the silver siXpcncc was blended
with the arms on his carriage; it form
r. the seal with which he stamped his
letters; and he had one of the COIN
he used To say tho very identical one
he first ownrd--i;,stcncL upon his desk
in his coun,ing-ronm. Remembering
thus constantly that by small means
he had risen, he still, amid much we'll
bestowed charity and in the constant
practice Of true bcncvolcncc looked
well to small things, and never forgot
how to reckon cents us we'll nS d"l!ars
Thus smoothly were 1'hcolorc's
affairs going forward, when one sultry
day, just as he had entered his count
ing-r"om. a thin. squalid figure present
ed himself at the counter, and asked
for employment. He wore a thread.
bare suit of black, an old hat, and his
shoes were almost ready to drop
.trnm his tcrt.
''ln what capacity" asked Theodore,
"do YOU wish for empl"ymcnt?"
'ln any capacity" was the reply ;
shut sir" continued the stranger,
wiping tear from his eye With his
coat lecvc, 'my father was n merchant,
and lie brought me up to his profts-
sion. should therefore be glad of
employment as clerk"
Theodore looked at the man closely.
Ile imagined he saw some lincamcnt
he remembered.
w nat Is your name he added.
Tho stranger hesitated n moment.
hung down his head, and replied in a
low voice, "Jeremiah Budd."
"Ah" said Theodore, recollccting
him instantly; "and you have got clear
of your six dollars long ago, fancy
jeremiah"
"Yes," said jeremiah, with Sigh,
"but ! have not forgotten the ragged
little boy with the silver sixpcnce.
Had been half as careful Of my thou.
sands as lie was of his pence, | should
not have been here fricndless and pen.
nilcss this day"
There was a halftriumphant smile
on Theodore's face as he took the hand
of the visiter, which seemed to spring
from self.complacent feeling, which
was cxcuSable. becnuse r. oroco nor,I, :,