Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-08-21
9 4rettp storg,
THE MERCHANTS GlF T.
BY GEORGE P. BURNHAM.


JOSEPH WARNER was wealthy mer
chant of Philadelphia, living in pripcely J
style, surrounded by retinue of servants
and a large coterie of friends and fashiona,
bic acquaintances, many of whom had been
his intimates for series of years. He was
originally in very small way himself, and
had found it necessary to succumb to thou
sand humilities and inconveniences years
before, that were not only excessively an
Eoyipg to his naturally proud spirit, but
irksome, and hard to cope with.
Twenty years previously, he was porter
in the store of crusty old millionaire, who,
though he had little sympathy for the poor
and humble generally, was, nevertheless,
upon certain occasions, kind and liberal to
those he CHANGED to fancy Upon very
hot day in midsummer, this wealthy en-
gloyer of Warmers, at that time, saw Joe
Eas;hs was then oalled) sweating aud toiling
Hp to his store.dcor with truck-load of
merchandise he had procured from neigh
boring vessel of old G--s. The employ
or watched his porter as he came along to-
ward the sidewalk, putting and struggling
With his burden, and when he arrived be-
fore the door and removed his slouched
hat, to pass his weather Drowned arm across
his heated forehead, the millionaire said,
PLEASANTLY, 'Well, Joe, this'll pass for hot
day."
every warm, sir, very," replied Joe,
looking about him to see if some other per-
son were not addressed, instead of himself !;
for old G.. was not in the habit of being
thus familiar with his dependents.
As foe Warner Fugeed and laborea to
remove the goods safely from his dray, his
employer watched his movements, and final
ly said:
Joe, what the deuce do you work so hard
for ?''
"For my bread, sir; and to keep the lit
tie ones together"
"How many have you?"
"Four, sir The eldest is ten years old
now, and has got to be a good deal Of help
TO her mother
"Well, you can do better than this, Joe,
if you've mind and become a merchant
yourself"
Joe supposed his employer to be jesting,
hut he answered, "fes; sir, if ] had the
means to do differently, wouldn't sweat
over this dray, assure you. But the ba-
bies must be cared for, you know, and am
content There are plenty of men, sir, a
good deal worse off than Joe Warner is, to,
day"
"Trre,-but you can do better"
Gas hoy, sir, if you please % qqeriea
foe.
ffDo little mora head work. and less of
this hard toll will be needed, Joe. Buy a
cargo of sugar, for instance, and make few
hundreds or thousands of dollars by the op-
GRAFTON, to begin with. Then 60 carefully,
shave and save as respectfully as may be
necessary, according to the times, the de-
mand, and the supply, and you'll get rich "
''Excellent advice, this, sir, and for which
am greatly obliged to you. But, perhaps,
you will lay me under further obligations to
your kindness, by informing me where I'm
10 get the means to purchase this cargo, and,
consequently, to realize all these hundreds
or thousands of dollars, as the case Nigh be. "
"Easiest thing in the world, joe"
"Is it, sir?"
"You don't want any money"
"No :" exclaimed Joe, astonished--
"Why, I always thought these things cost
money, sir
"True,-but still you wont want any rea
dy money, if you follow my advice"
"Then I'll do so, surely, sir"
every we'll. Tomorrow, at eleven O.
clock, there is to be sold at Packet Pier, ;
cargo of sugar, on board the brig 'Percival.
Go down and buy It."
"What, the brig, sir?"
"No, no! The sugar"
CHOW much, sir?"
"The cargo, Joe,-the whole of it. II
take it off your hands, at cost, if you don
want it, afterwards"
"But-the pay, sir. How shall pa.
for it ?"'
cit is to be sold, on approved credit, a
sixty days. If they ask who is your endor
ser, says it's me, joe"
"Thank you," said Joe, feebly, and ut
terly at a loss to comprehend what the OLE
gentleman was driving at.
Joe Warner went home that night, per
plexed. But before eleven o'clock mex
day, though he did not see his employer il
the meantime, he made up his mind how h
sla..ll al Anl at tho hour nf cola b