The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-12-06


The furniture was old-fashioned, and the
surroundings were strictly after the plain
taste of the owner. AS he slumbered his
countenance was calm, and without the
trace of single care. At times slight
smile fitted over his face, and he seemed
to be in pleasant dream. He slumbers
continued for considerable time, when
he suddenly awoke. He rubbed his eyes
and then spoke: .
Ha, ha !" he said, ave had dream
again about my young cooper. L thought
that I'd hear something about him again.
There is a good spirit looking after his
welfare, surely. When he finishes his
apprenticeship, and is good cooper, give
him twenty thousand dollars to start in
business, whispered the voice in my ear.
OF course will He is worthy of en-
couragement.. The money will go into
good hands. Of course I'll giveit to him
but in my own way. Ha, ha! I've a
plan for that"
Soon the old man dropped into slumber
again he had the same calm countenance
and the same serene smile. His life was
uCNOlu VI ali eNll anu uICtuIS were Vi
good deeds in store for the future.
Time passed on. One day the young
man came into Mr.. Girards office He
was in the garb of mechanic, and he
looked healthful and sinewy from manual
labor.
"Good day, Mr.. Girard," he said as
the old gentleman turned toward him
with warm greeting; )" have come to
tell you that l am a good cooper now.
I've served my entire time.
Can you make good barrel?'
As good as any cooper in Philadel-
phia."
Make me twenty, and bring them
here yourself"
The young man went off, and in an
hour was hard at work at the barrels. He
was really a superior workman, and when
the twenty barrels were completed they
were the admiration of all in the shop.
When they had been placed in Mr.. Cir
ards he examined every one of them
with the closest scrutiny. He looked at
the slaves, the hoops, the heads, the
shape, the cutting and the driving, and
in the end remarked to the young cooper
who was anxiously waiting for his ver-
dict -
"They are good barrels. 1 never saw
better. You have learned your trade
and done your part faithfully. Come into
the counting-room, and iii now do mine.
The couple went into the office The
old mans face was beaming pleasure and
satisfaction, and the young mans was
flushed and pale by turns from the pecu-
liar circumstances of the moment Mr..
Girard took down his check book and
wrote check. This he cut out, and
then, turning to the young man, said:
any young friend listen to me. Your
fidelity, promptness and energy early at
tracted my attention. Then l had the
dream about you that mentioned to
you long time ago. You acted with
alacrity upon the suggestion made in con.
sequence of that dream, and to-day you
stand before me skilled in a trade. I
have dreamed of you in the meantime.
A good spirit whispered in my ear to give
you $4,000 You have made for
me twenty superior barrels for which
| will now pay you one thousand each"
Mr.. Girard, at this juncture, placed in
the hand of the agitated young man the
check he had prepared.
Now" he continued, "you have a
capital to commence business as a mer-
chant if you see fit. If disaster should
overtake you so to your trade again"
The young man broke forth in tor
rent of thanks, but Mr.. Girard abruptly
stopped him, saying:
You lose interest on your money
while you talk, | have fulfilled my
dreams and done justice by you. "Good
morning"
Here. this strange interview ended. The
young man went away with the deepest
gratitude in his heart, and a resolution
to make business worthy of the respect
of his generous benefactor. He subse.
quently became one of the first merchants
Of Philadelphia. This incident is one of