The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-05-13
"The WheelbarrOw Business"
BY THE FAT CONTRIBUTOR.

at is related of Girard, that when
young tradesman having bought of him
and paid for a bag of coffee, proceeded to
wheel it home himself, the shrewd old mer-
chant Immediately offered to trust his Gus
toner for as many bags as he might desire.
The trait of character revealed by the
Young man in being his own porter, had
given the millionaire confidence i'll him at
once. Ills reputation was made with
Girard. He became Il favored dealer with
the enterprising merchant, throve rapidly,
and in the end made a fortune. '-E.rchange.
That sort of thing might have worked
well enough with old Girard, but it don't
fool anybody now. I have tried it. |
bought half pound of tea at Penderry's
the other day after reading the above para
graph, and wheeled it home in the most
ostentatious manner, to see if Pendery,
who was looking on, woultin't offer to trust
me for all the tea that | wanted, but he
didn't. On the contrary, heard him speak
up sharp to clerk as | went around the
| corner asking him if that tea was paid for +?
| Iafterward took wheelbarrow and went
to Il flour store on Central avenue. Bought
Il small bag of flour, twenty give pounds,
think, and loaded it ON, the head of the
concern looking at me with apparent inter
| est.
"Now," I thought, 8" is my opportunity.
This is Girard Teller. He will tell me to
come and get all the flour l can wheel
away, and pay when ! get ready. Perhaps
| he will offer me a partnership in his store.
Then | spat on my hands and whipped
them over my shoulders to encourage a Wig
orous circulation, rubbed them together
smartly, and clutching the handles of the
barrow started off at Il brisk trot. | had
| proceeded about a square when | heard
some one shouting after me. | looked
around and saw the flour man coming on
dead run.
" Ha, ha.' thought l, " the thing works
admirably. The example of Steve Girard
is not lost. | have revealed u trait of char
acter in being my own porter, to say moth
ing of my beer, and my fortune is made !.
| The flour and feed man recognizes my mer
its, and comes to offer me partnership
| As he approached, | saw he had some
money in his hand. He is at least |
said, .going to return me My money. -
! There was a severe look on his face as he
came up to me which did not accord at all
with what had pictured Girard's countc-
nance TO have worn when he gave the carte
| blanche for coffee.
While rejecting that it might be I" his
way" he said: ''Sir, want you to go
right back to my store
at is coming now," though did not
quite like his tone. Wheelbarrows are
about to receive their reward. He is COM
Ing to offer me a partnership perhaps to
turn over his entire business to me-" |
was consequently elated.
Then said to the flour and feed man
| Gust as though didn't know, you know,
the clever things he meant to do for me,
"May inquire for what purpose, sir?'
"Certainly you may he replied, frown-
| inc worse than ever g You showed this
one dollar counterfeit bill to my clerk and
you must come back till get policeman.
Oh you needn't try to look so innocent !.
| spicioned you when saw you coming
round to my store to get such little jag
o flour as that Watched We to see that
We didn't steal nothin'. You see you can't
fool an old hand like me-
Here was Il turn in affairs that would
astonish old Girard himself. | tried to
explain. Assured him that supposed the
note to be genuine. He was incredulous
for a time, and was disposed to have me
locked up and the wheelbarrow detained
as witness, but finally let me off on my
redeeming the note.
The wheelbarrow business is all hum
bug. A man can't make a character in any
such way. And the chances are that he
will lose what little he starts out with.