Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-01-07

and to place the whole book excepting of the
establishment in her hands She worked
from eight TO ten hours day, accomplish
ing what two men had been paid to do be-
fore; and, besides the accounts Of the firm,
opened an account with each man separate
ly, keeping precise tally Of the number Of
hours that be worked.
The respect with which these men looked
up TO her was remarkable. They used to
/ say that she understood more Of the details
of the manufacture than any one on the
premises. She was as keenly alive to their
interests as to those of the firm. Finding
there was need Of a store to supply them
with groceries and provisions, she suggest
/ ed to her father that one should be opened
at once near the factory. It was started on
her own responsibility. She hired bald
ing for the purpose, and not only engaged
the clerks, but even snatched time every
evening to foot up their accounts herself
The interests Of the firm now began 10
call her abroad She was frequently dis
| patched on important missions to the larger
mill owners with whom her father had bus
ness relations, and was employed in the most
important transactions This vas not all.
In addition to the book keeping, which she
| still retained, and all the other labors for
which she found time, at the end of two
years she was carrying on the entire bank
| ing business Of the establishment An mo
neys now passed through her hands. She
settled The bills in person and paid the men.
Every week she rode to bank, distance Of
SIX miles, and was often obliged to return
long after dark. She carried a loaded pistol
on these occasions, being intrusted with
large sums Of money, from FIVE to thirty
thousand dollars; and. though the hour at
which she would return was known through
out the neighborhood, no one ever molested
her.
During ten years she lived this life Of
ceaseless activity. In 1866 her father fac
tories we're burnt to the ground by an incen
diary. The destruction Of property amount.
ed to two hundred thousand dollars The
buildings and machinery we're insured for
half that sum; but so heavy was the loss that
| for long time it was doubtful whether the
whole insurance would be paid. The insu-
rance companies tried to prove the loss less
than it really was, and the fact that the
books had been kept by young girl induced
them to hope that flaws might be discovered
in the accounts. TIE court therefore, ap-
pointed a committee of three professional
book keepers to examine them At the end
of two weeks every entry had been verified
and the committee were obliged to report
that the books we're absolutely faultless. On
the strength Of this testimony the court de-
creed that the total amount Of insurance
must be paid.
The remaining facts in Cornelai's life are,
briefly, these: Shortly after the destruction
Of the factories, her health broke down, in
consequence Of so sudden change from the
unremitting labor of years to the quiet du-
ties Of home-life Her iron constitution
seemed shattered for time; but her indom-
table will triumphed at length over the
most alarming symptoms of paralysis. And
at the end of year she had so far recover
ed her wonted vigor as to be able to travel
alone, a distance of four thousand miles
through the West
Since this, she has held a responsible po-
sition in large tea establishment in Jersey
City; and her influence procured important
situations for her brothers A few weeks
ago she returned home to relieve her moth
er of household cares, and is now busy as
ever, cooking, washing, sweeping-the iu-
ty of the hour being, as ever, the inspira-
| ton of her life. S. G. w.