The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-05-27
"Son ofthe Carpenter receive
This humble work Of mlne.v
A Lad Wheels Himself into Fortune

At meeting of the stockholders of n
prominent railway corporation, recently
held in this city, were present two gentle
men, both well up in years, one, however.
considerably the senior of the other. In
talking of old times gone by, the youngest
gentleman called the attention Of his
friends and told pleasant little story
which should be read with profit by every
poor. industrious and striving lad. We
use his own language Nearly half q
century ago, gentlemen, was put upon
the world to make my living. was stout,
willing and able. considering my then ten
der years, and secured place in hard
ware store to do all kinds Of chores re-
quired. I was paid seventy-fvc dollars u
year for my .boyish services. One day.
after had been ut work three months Or
more, my friend there. Mr.. b., who holds
his age remarkably wei, ,came into the store
and bought a large bill Of shovels and tongs
sadirons and pans, buckets, scrapers and
scuttles, for he was to bo married next
day. and was supplying his household in
advance, rs was the groom's custom In
those day. The articles were packed on
the barrow and made load sufficiently
heavy for young mule. But moro will
ING than able, started of. proud that I
could move such mass on the wheel.bar-
row. 60. on remarkably we'll till l
struck the mud road.now Seventh avenue.
leading to my friend BIS house. There l
toiled and tugged aud toiled, but could
not bulge the load up the hill. tho wheel
going its full half diameter In the mud
every time I would propel II forward. FL
nally, good natured Irishman passing by
with dray took my barrow, self and NIL
on his vehicle, and In consideration of my
promise to pay him a 'hit' landed mo Mt
my destination. / counted the articles
carefully as I delivered them, and with
my empty barrow trudged my way back,
whistling with glec over my triumph over
difficulty. Some weeks after paid the
Irishman the bit and never got 1t back
from my employers. (Mr. b., l am sure
would have ronumerated me, but he new
or before heard this story, so If ho Is in
clined he can compromise the debt by
sending me bushel of his rnrcripe peach
es next f,ll) But to the moral. A mcr-
chant here had witnessed my struggles,
and how zealously l labored to deliver tho
load of hardware he oven watched mo
to tho house and saw me count each piece
rs handed II in the doorway. He sent
for me next day, asked my name, and told
mo he had arcward for my industry and
chcurfulncss under difficulty, In the shape
of a five hundred dollar clerkship in his
extensive establishment. accepted and
now, after nearly half q century. look
back and say wheeled myself into all l
own. for that reward of perseverance was
my grand stopping stone to fortune
The speaker was very wealthy bank
CT man or influence and position, and
one universally respected for many good
qualities of head and heart. Boys, take .
moral from this little story and be willing
and Industrious. You do not know how
many eyes are upon you to discover
whether you arc sluggish and careless, or
Industrious and willing, or how many
there are. who. IL you are moral and
worthy. will give you n stopping stone to
wealth and position.-httsbury Gazette.