The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-11-03
N1r. stephen GIrard's Wonderful
Dreams.

Stephen Girard was one of tie most
remarkable men who ever lived. Phiia-
delphia, the city where he amassed his
great fortune in business, was the recipi-
EFT of bis munifcent bounty at his death.
and his name and memory are well pres
| served in the Girard College, Girard Row,
| Girard Avenue, Girard Bank, Girard
Insurance Company, Girard House, etc.
M Girard College, where the support and
/ education of some five hundred orphan
and half-orphan boys are provided for,
there is a mar BILE statue A Mr.. Girard,
which represents him with exact fidelity
to his appearance in life. lie was of
| short stature, benevolent smile, and had
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
bencvolence. es1sf1es e. =7-
| In his office was a young man as clerk,
who attended TO his duties very inteIli-
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 remarked {:
''Young man, dreamed of you last
night"
dreamed of me- returned the clerk,
in surprise.
''4es | saw form, and heard voice,
lbe form was your own, and the voice
said 'Ihis young 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 he a first-rate cooper. /
never go contrary to my dreams. They
often teach me how TO proceed / trust
in them as do my own Judgement, and
1 obey them coBscienliously. Go and
get place TO learn the trade Of cooper,
and when you can make barrel come
and see me again"
The clerk was, of course, greatly as
tonished. But he had no fear of toll, and
knew that he would lose nothing, in any
event, by falling in with the directions of
Mr.. Girard. Accordingly he settled np
his affairs at the Office. and IN few days
engaged with Mr. Girard's cooper to learn
the trade. During long period he kept
steadily at ~UIk, aIId Inatlo ~nAIIo-ss F--,--
gress.
Meanwhile Dir. Girard had not forgot
ten him. He often saw the young man
in his overalls at work on the wharves,
and he always spoke encouragingly to
him. He had not made up his mind as
to what he would do for hiuT, but he was
greatly pleased at the successful carrying
out of bis dream. On one occasion as
be came from The wharf he muttered:
MY young cooper is doing we'll He
is man, every inch of him must give
him a helping hand"
A few nights subsequently the good
old man was sleeping camly in his hum
ble-looking apartment. His real wealth
did not show itself in anything about him.
The furniture WAS old-fasiioned and all
the surroundings were strictly after the
plain taste of the owner. As he slum-
bered his coUntenaRce was calm, and
without the trace of single care. At
times slight smile fitted over his face,
and he seemed to be in a pleasant dream.
His slumbers continued for a considerable
time, when he suddenly awoke. He
rubbed his eyes and then spoke.
again about my young cooper. thought
that I'd hear something about him again.
There is good spirit looking after his
we flare, surely. when be 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 en-
enlargement. The money will 60 into
good hands. OF course I'll give it to
him, but in my own way. Ha, ha;
Eve plan for that"
Soon the old man dropped into slumber
again. He had the same calm counte-
nance, and the came 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 mechanic, and he
looked Eealthful and sinewy from manual
labor
''Good day, Mr.. Girard." he said, as
the old gentleman turned to him with a
warm greeting. 81 have come to tell you
that am good cooper now. I've served
my entire time
''Can you make good barrel p,
GAS good as any cooper in Philadel>
phia.''
Snake 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 superior workman, and
when the twenty barrels were completed
they were the admiration of all in the
shop. WheH they had been placed in
Mr. Girard's store be 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