The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-15
E.cssous from IN Old Merchant

! That veteran and honorable merchant iona.
than aturges Of New York, at the dinner given
in his honor on tho occasion of his retirement
from active business. gave the following golden
counsel to young men
"Now, gentlemen, since there is nothing that
can talk about that you do not understand IA
great deal better than l do, / propose to say Il
lew words for the benefit OF the yeung men out.
side, and If you approve of what is said let it be
considered said by this Grand jury of Mer.
| chants now assembled.
One of the first lessons 1 received was in 1918.
when was eleven years of age My grandfather
had collected fine flock OF merino sheep which
were carefully cherished during the war of 1872
10. was shepherd boy, and my business was
TO watch the sheep in the fields A boy, who
was more fond of his books than Of sheep, was
sent with me, but left the work to me, while he
lay in the shade and read his books. I finally
| complained OF this 10 the old gentleman. shall
never forget his benignant smile us he replied :
Never you mind; if you watch the sheep. Won
will have the sheep thought to myself: what
does the old gentleman mean! Idon't expect 10
have any sheep My aspirations were quite
moderate in those days. and first-class merino
buck was worth $1,000. | could not make ont
exactly what he meant, but / had great conf
dence in him, as he was judge, and had been
to Congress i'll Washington's time so / conclu-
ded that it was all right, whatever he meant.
and went out contentedly with the sheep. After
got to the field l could not get that idea out of
my head. Finally thought of my Sunday les
son: Thou hast been faithful over :, few things,
will make thee ruler over many things Then
l understood 1t: Never you mind who else neg
icots his duty; DC you faithful, and YOU will
have your reward L do not think i. will take
many lads Us long as itdid me to understand this
provcrb.
| received my second Lesson soon after | came
to this city, a clerk to the late Human Reed.
a merchant from Ohio, who knew me, came to
purchase goods of 1ir. Reed. He expressed his
qualification at finding me there and said to me
'You have got a good place. Make yourself so
useful that they cannot do without YOU took
his meaning quicker than / did the proyerb
about the sheep. Well, l worked upon these
two ideas until Mr.. Reed offered me an interest
in his business.
The first morning after the co-partnership was
announced, Nv James Geery, the old tea rncr-
chant, called to see me, and said to me- you
are all right now: l have one word of advice to
give you be careful whe you wall, the streets
with That was lesson number three
In this connection [ must repeat an anecdote
told Of the late Robert Lcnnox a country
merchant a De into the store of Norton, q highly
respectable Scotch merchant, to purchase goods
lie spoke about credit, references, &c. Mr.. Nor
ton said: Il will give you what credit YOU wish.
But said the merchant, Il am an entire strany.
er TO you. Mr.. Morton replied: Did l not see
you at church with Robert Lennox = Yes,
was at church with him. We'll, will trust
any man whom Robert Lennox will take to
church with him
hope these three lessons of watchiulness oyer
the interests Of their employers, watchfuluess
over their partners interests and their own after
they are joined, followed by intense watchful.
ness that no black sheep creep into their folds,
may be impressed by these anecdotes upon the
minds of those for whom they are intended
One other lesson l feel it very necessary to in
culcate-that Of patience
With q little patience most young men will
find position as high as they have fitted then.-
selves to fill
In all the changes which have taken place in
my firm since 1922, no pIytncr has been brought
in who has not served as clerk in the establish
mert. And now leave my house we'll organ
lied, prosperous, and free from complications,
still in the hands of those who have served in it
as clerks for longer or shorter period. NEIL
ton this rs an encouragement to young men to
preserve in the faiahiul performance of their
duties"