Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-02-02
A TRADE, BOYS.


think they can never be respected unless they re
side in the city, and are city merchants. They are
accustomed to look with contempt upon any avo
cation,which has to be sustained by manual labor
So they consider the farmer and the machanic
as belonging to an inferior class. In this, they
exhibit not only pride but folly. Opposed to
them, are some of our wisest men,--men whose
opportunities for extended observation, have
been very great. The present Governor, and
Secretary of State, of Massachusetts, and the
Mayor of the city of Roxbury, whose opinions
are entitled to great respect, have recently de.
clared, that ont of every hundred who have left
the. country for the city, and entered upon mer-
camille life, ninety have become bankrupt, have
failed. In the light of such declarations, how
clearly appears the value of an ability to labor
with the hands,-how clearly appears the i'm
portance Of trade, or profession, which msfor-
tune and bankruptcy cannot take away. Every
body has heard of Grard, of Philadelphia who, by
his own efforts, became extremely rich. He
had high opinion of trade. He had seen so
many merchants reduced to poverty, and be-
cause they had no trade, to grea: suffering, that
he was accustomed to place high regard upon
a trade, and to consider a young man but half
prepared for the great affairs of life who had no
trade. He had with him lad who entered his
counting-room when about sixteen years of age
and who by his singular expertness, energy and
sagacity, won largely his friendship, and indu-
ced him to hint that he should do we'll by him
when he attained his majority. The lad did ar
rive at one-and-twenty years, and then asked
his employer for his advice for the future, ex-
pecting from what had previously passed be-
tween them, that Girard would advance him
considerable sum to enable him to set up bus.
ness for himself "Well," said the opulent
merchant, "my advice to YOU is, to learn the
cooperS trade" The young man was confound-
ed, and it was some moments before he could
speak. Atlength recovering himselfhe remark
ed, eff you are in earnest, Mr.. Grard, in this
advice, will follow it." 4" am in earnest" re-
piled the merchant. So the young man went
out and looked up the best in the city, and en-
tered into an arrangement with him to learn the
trade. He entered at once upon his new busi
ness with earnestness, and remained an appren-
tice till he had mastered the trade, and obtained
from his master certificate to that effect He
then waited upon Mr.. Girard, and asked for his
further advice The old man received him with
great joy, and expressed his pleasure at his hav-
ing learned the trade, and requested him to make
c.. L..
days called again upon the banker, and brought
the barrels. The merchant looked at them, and
expressed his satisfaction with them, and then
asked
How much do you ask for these barrels?"
Gone dollar, each, is as low as can afford to
put them," replied the young cooper.
"That is cheap enough" said Mr.. Girard.
He then went to his desk, and drew a check
for t,oo thousand dollars, and gave it to the
young man, saying
Take that, and invest it in trade, to the best
ofyour ability and if ever you are unfortunate
in business, you have good trade to fall back
upon."
There was great wisdom in the course of this
man, who had strong friendship for the young
man, and who really wished to benefit him.
We hope all our young readers, who are boys
will be induced by such wisdom, to value trade
highly, and to prefer it much to the occupation
of merchant--for such an occupation is most
precarious occupation. That trade may be the
means ofsupport, even to nobleman, the follow
ing incident most clearly shows:
Not many years ago, Polish lady ofplebeian
BIRTH but exceeding beauty and accomplish
ments won the affections ola young nobeman,
who having her consent, solicited her from her
father in marriage, and was refused. We may
easily imagine the astonishment Of the noble
man.
"Am | not" said he, "of sufficient rank to
aspire to your daughters handw
"You are undoubtedly of the best blood of
Poland"
"Then having your daughters consent, how
could expect refusal?"
"This, sir" said the father :" is my only child,
and happiness is the chef concern of my life.-I
All the possessions of fortune gives, at her cap
rice she takes away. l see no secuaity for the
and comfortable living of wife
but one-in word, am resolved that no one