Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-06-16

Several years ago a youth of sixteen years,
Of good sense and fair English education,
not having profitable employment at his
fathers home in Kentucky, sought work
among his entcrprising neighbors few miles
distant; aud although wages were low in
those days of gold and silver currency. he
saved from the first years wages $40 lie
was then seventeen years old, healthy, lively
looking, aspiring and ambitious to become
useful, noble, and perhaps great. He had
already learned that money loaned at high
rates Of interest was oppressive to the bor-
rover, aud reacted on the loaner, aud in the
falling Of prices of nearly all articles in the
commercial world that men sought justili-
cation for their bankruptcy and delinquency
in the fact that they had paid large rates OF
interest. Feeling therefore, that libcralty
as well as justice was necessary to every man
in dealing with his fellow men, he loaned his
$40 to an exemplary, cnterprsing and pros
porous trading man in his neighborhood at
the lowest rate of interest known in business
in that State, viz: six per cent per annum.
lie worked another year, clothed himself IN
neat Kentucky Jeans aud other cheap but
neat articles of apparel, and went to a coun.
try school three months in the winter of that
year, and learned the rudiments Of Latin and
something Of the higher branches Of mathe-
MATES, working for prosperous and liberal
farmer morning and evening to pay his board
and at the end of the second year, or when
he was eighteen years OF age, he had saved
500 more. His character for integrity and
industry began TO be better known in the
neighborhood, and his services were sought
for.
lie worked on farm and rode as collector
for trading men and the sheriff Of his county
and at the end of his nineteeoth year had
saved Sll0 more With the interest accu
INFLATED on his other two years wages he had
now $500; was comfortably clothed aud had
good business education, which he improved
from Que winter to another, till he became a
scholar. both literally and scientifically. His
influence and usefulness Increasing, he had, at
the age Of twenty years $3.50. At twenty.
one he had accumulated $3.50, and was well
known for his activity Of life, as a young
man Of very attractive manners and ways.
He moved to Western State where land
was cheap, and entered 100 acres by land
warrant, which he purchased with $3.50 oil
his money. He made a good selection oil
land, in good region of country he used a
portion of the balance of his money in improy.
ing his land, buying little stock, and a few
implements for farming, and the second yeai
he raised a small crop. Having gone to hi,
new neighborhood with about s400 in money
and used it cautiously, he by degrees gained
the name Of responsible citizen and gooC
paymaster, and his influence rose gradual
from his appearance among his new and scat
tering neighbors. Year after year he raisec
a crop, continuing to read the best newspapers
periodicals and books, which still further i'm
proved his mind, till sheep, cattle, and othe
stock grew up in aocks about him, more lane
adjoining him being purchased from time t,
time, till now he finds himself, when scarccl,
arrived at the middle age of life, gentleman
farmer of wealth, surrounded by comfort an,
many uxuries, esteemed by neighbors boil
far and near, and would receive the suilrag
of those who know him to any office for whic
he might be nominated, irrespective of part
politics, so firm is their confidence in both hi
ability aud integrity.