Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-10

| ever met. IL OuNOui hau Dtch thc wi
lister of King William, the German En-
pire would have been completed, and
that without shot.
A Dream of Gfrard and its Conse'
| quences.
Stephen Girard was one Of the most
remarkable men who ever lived. Phila
delphia, the city where he amassed his
great fortune in business, was the recipi
ent of his munifeent bounty at his death
and his name and memory are well pre-
served in Girard College, Girard row
Girard avenue, Girard Bank, Girard In
surance Company, Girard House, etc.
At Girard College, where the support and
education of some five hundred orphan
and half-orphan boys are provided for,
there is a marble statue of Mr.. Girard,
which represents him with exact fidelity
to his appearance in life. He was OF
short stature, benevolent smile and a
shrewd face. He wore large, peculiar
coat, and his hair was tied in queue.
His whole life was marked by eccentrici-
ties, which, in no particular, were more
observable than in his occasional acts OF
benevolence.
In his office was a young man as clerk,
who attended to his duties very intelli-
gently and faithfully. This had attracted
the attention of Mr.. Girard, for nothing
escaped him. One morning he came
into the Office, and calling the clerk, re-
marked:
Young man, dreamed about you
last night"
Dreamed of me, !" returned the clerk,
in surprise
Yes. saw a form and heard a
voice. This form was your own, and the
voice said: This man is your best clerk,
but he should be cooper. Merchants
fail, but coopers are always sure of liv-
ing by their trade. So you must leave
me and learn to be frst-rate cooper. |
never 90 contrary to my dreams. They
often tell me how to proceed. trust in
them as do my own judgment, and obey
them conscientiously. Go and get a
place to learn the trade of a cooper, and
when you can make a barrel come and
see me again.
The clerk was, Of course, greatly
astonished. But he had no fear of toll
and he knew that he would lose nothing,
in any event, by falling in with the
directions of Mr.. Girard. Accordingly
he settled up his affairs at the Office, and
in few days engaged with Mr.. Girard' S
cooper to learn the trade. During a
long period he kept steadily at work,
and made excellent progress.
Meanwhile Mr.. Girard had not forgot
ten him. He often saw the young man
in his overalls on the wharves at work,
and he always spoke encouragly to him.
He had not made up his mind as to what
he would do for him, but he was greatly
pleased at the successful carrying out of
his dream. On one occasion, as he
came from the wharf, he muttered:
My young cooper is doing we'll He
is man, every inch of him. | must
give him helping hand
A few nights subsequently the good
old man was sleeping calmly in his
humble-looking apartment His real
wealth did not show itself in anything
about him. The furniture was old-fash-
oned, and all 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 a pleas
ant dream. His slumbers continued for
a considerable time, when he suddenly
awoke. He rubbed his eyes and then
spoke.
All, hal" he said, 1--WE had dream
again about my young cooper. ! 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 a good cooper,
give him twenty thousand dollars to start
in business, whispered the voice in my
ear. Of course | will. He is worthy Of
encouragement The money will 90 into
good hands. OF course I'll give it to
him, but in my own way. Ha, ha I've
a plan for that
Soon the old man dropped into slum-
Der again. He had the same calm coun-
tenance, and the same serene smile. His
life was devoid Of all evil and his dreams
were of good deeds in store for the future.
Time passed on. One day the young
man came into Mr.. Girard's Office. He
was in the garb of a mechanic, and he
looked healthful and sinewy from manual
labor.
Good day, Mr.. Girard," he said, as
the old gentleman turned TO him with a
warm greeting ~ have come to tell
you that / am a good cooper now. I've
served my entire time.
d" Can you make a good barrel9
" As good as any cooper in Philadel-
phia."
Make me twenty and bring them
here yourself
The young man went land in half an
hour was hard at work at the barrels. He
was really a superior workman, and
when the twenty barrels were complete
they we're the admiration Of all in the
shop. When they had been placed in
Mr.. Girard's store 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
cooper, vino was anxiously waiting for
his verdict:
They are good barrels. never saw
better. You have learned your trade,
and done your part faithfully. Come into
The counting-room and I'll now do mine"
The couple went into the Office. The
old mans face was beaming with pleas
ure and satisfaction,a and the young mans
was flushed and pale by turns from the
peculiar circumstances Of the moment |
Mr.. Girard took down his check-book. |
and wrote a check. This he cut out, and
then, turning TO the young man, said;
"My young friend, listen to me. Your
fidelity, promptness and energy early at
tracted my attention. Then had the |
dream about YOU ] mentioned to you a
long time ago. You acted with alacrity
upon the suggestion madei in consequence !
OF that dream, and to-day you stand be-
fore me skilled in a trade | have
dreamed Of you in the meantime. A
good spirit whispered into my ear to give |
you tg'eniy thousand dollars You have |
made me twenty superior barrels, for |
which ! VII nov pay one thousand DOLL