The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-12-23
gem:.iseenee Of .Fifty-seycn. ),

The late Julian Legrand, famous
Paris merchant, was fond of telling the
following incident of his mercantile Life,
and he never closed the narration but
with swimming eyes: During the Imam
clal crisis aud crush of fifty seven, Then
great men were sinking around US, and
banks were tottering, our house became
alarmed at the condition of its own af
fairs. The. partners-three OF us, OF
whom [ was the senior-met in our pri-
vate Office. for consultation. Our junior
made careful Inventory of everything
of bills receivable and bills spayable and
| his report was that twenty thousand
pounds speaking in English currency of
ready money, to be held through the
pressure, would save us. Without that
we must go by the board, the result was
inevitable. | went out among my friends,
but in vain. The money we needed was
nor let it so, save upon solid security,
our word and honor, for the many thou
sands due US were as nothing In that
hour. Aa
| Two whole days | strove and begged,
and then returned to the counting house
every moment to hear the voice Of our
junior sounding the terrible words: Our
paper is Protested ~ when a gentleman
en1ered my apartment unannounced,
Ii was Of middle age, with frank, gen
de face, and though | fancied there was
something familiar in his earnest, kindly
look, yet | could not call him to mind in
any way.
IN Legrand,' he said, taking seat
near my desk, l hear that you are IN
need Of money!
The very face of the man inspired con-
fdeuce, and | told him just how L was
situated. -r v-r4eg ~ regs i
Give me your own note of hand at
one year, without interest, for 100000,
and will give you a check for that
amount.
While I sat gazing upon him in speech
less astonishment, he continued thus:
GU don t remember me, but l re-
member you. | remember when you
were a member of the experimenting
school committee Of Mezieres. L was a
boy at school. My father was dead, my
mother was poor, and | was shabbily
dressed, though clean. When our class
was called Up to reclte, on examination
day, you asked the questions. l tancled
sou would praise aud pet the children
of the rich and fortunate parents and
pass me by. | blundered und stammer-
ed aud quivered with shame. But it
was not as | had thought. In the end,
you passed by all the others and came
to me- You laid your hand on my head
and told me- | had doae very well; and
then you told me | could do better If L
would try. Y on told me that the way
20 honor and renown was open to all
alike-no one had a free pass. All | had
to do was to resolve and push on. That
sir, was the turning point of my Gie.-
From that time my soul was inspired,
and have never reached a great good
without blessing you in my heart. |
haye prosneIed, and | now offer you but
a poor return for the soul wealth you
gave me il HAT by-gone time.
81 took the check, - said Legrand,
and drew the gold, and our house was
saved And where, at the end of the
year, he added, ''do you suppose |
found my promissorY note p
We could not guess.
''in the possession" he told us, with
streaming eyes, 'of my little orphaned
granddaughter, Oh, hearts like that
man heart are what bring earth and
heaven nearer together.