Eastern times., 1856-03-27
Gbe gtorp Ctller.
SKILL rs CAPITAL.
a Genuine New England Story.

H a+l.r Il a..
dozen miles from Augusta, Maine. With a
good common school education, and a natural
aptitude, Hiram was considered, at the age of
twenty, TO quite promising young man,
and was certainly of great service 10 his father
on the farm. Old Mr.. Veazie was comfortably
his wants were few, and secondly, because his
land very nearly supplied them all But when
Hiram asked his father to advance him. some
small amount with which to commence busi-
ness, the good old man frankly acknowledged
his inability to do so, and rather wondered
that his son could not content himself on the
farm, as his father and grandfather had done
before him. "a iac a---t7 7fnas IS "a asgea&
The truth was, that Hiram had from bow
hood, and during all his school hours, been
the intimate friend and companion of pretty
Lucy White, the 'Squires daughter, and this
childish friendship, had ripened with years in
10 love. Lucy's father understood the posi-
tion OF affairs perfectly, but never interfered
until one day when Hiram took the old gentle
man one side and asked him for Lucy as his
wife. Old Squire White, as he was univer-
sally called, replied kindly, but firmly, that
Hiram must acquire some trade, and means
enough to support Lucy, before he could give
his consent to such an arrangement. The fu-
ture looked blank to Hiram, therefore, for he
was poor farmer IS boy. -
Lucy was gentle and lovely girl Of nineteen,
as intelligent as she was pretty. She loved
Hiram sincerely, but she was too sensible 10
sit down with him and pine over the situation
of affairs. She was practical Yankee girl,
and her advice to Hiram was sound and low
ing. ~ -.t G- ..se.t
Go, she said, 'to Boston or New York
You are active, good looking, intelligent and
industrious The very characteristics that
command place, should say, 10 large city,
and see if you do not find means of earning
such wages as shall help you to lay by some
thing. l, too, will be industrious, in the mean
time, and what little | can save shall 90 to
make up the necessary sum torthe purchase of
a snug little home for u.s.
Hiram kissed his little schoolmate, and
promising her that she should never for an hour
be out of his mind, soon gathered small sum
together, and with the blessing of his father
and mother, he took the cars for Boston. 1t
was his first visit 10 large city, and at the
outset he almost bewildered: but seek
ing economical lodgings, he began at once to
look about himself for employment, That, he
growing more and more conversant with city
life and ways, and he wrote every few days to
Lucy digest of observations and fortunes A
fortnight or three weeks in Boston made fear
ful inroads into his slender purse, and al the
suggestion of some new acquaintance he de-
termined TO go to New York.
Here he passed some Two weeks with vari-
Gus adventures, buI without finding an hour OF
paying occupation He wandered everywhere,
observing and searching out places, iuquiring
freely OF all, until the close of the third week,
he had but single dollar left in his pocket,
and felt for the first time nearly dishear,ened.
In this mood he stroled through one of the up
town cross streets above Union Park, and
found his attention attracted by the operation
of steam saw mill, which he entered and quiz
etly watched the business Of He saw small
but efficient steam engine driving four saws,
fed by four men, while there stood at a desk
hard by, one evidently the manager of the es-
tablishment. Hiram felt a strong interest in
what he saw there were large piles of lum-
Der in the building, an article he was familiar
with from childhood, and he watched the proc
ess of saving it up. carefully observing 10 what
purpose the wood was put, and saw couple of
hands in the further part of the shop, engaged in
dove-tailing the pieces together and forming
the lumber into boxes of different Sizes. He
consumed so much time, and was SO minute in
his observations, that at last the proprietor
came up to him and addressed him pleasantly
you seem to be quite Interested > he re-
marked to Hiram. t..
sYes. I have seen good deal of lumber in
my day, and | was calculating how much you
probably used up in this way
I'VE use good many thousand feet every
week. v.7 r aiaa.
$50 should think, and best number ones
too
Yes, we require the very best stock, ant
lumber is sup" now.' saa7
sa' How much do you pay!' as
Twenty-four dollars a thousand, all clea
and assorted 5
'What do you do with these boxes = con
tinued Hiram. @ aeF
20, we sell them faster than we can max,
them, for packing soap, chemicals, &C.
Rather heary for that purpose, l shoul,
say added Hiram. t ila q
Well, they are rather heavy, but we can
get boards sawed any different; they are dow
to the lowest guage of the numbering mills
Hiram looked thoughtful, handled the box
es, examined the saws, talked good commo
sense, in business style, to the man, and at las
he said half seriously, half in jest: sar 57
You don't want partner, do you1'
ao Why. not exactly though if l had on
who would put in a couple of thousand dollars
and would take hold heartily himself, / wouldn