National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-10
The Fat Contributors Failure,

! IL Is related OF Girard that when
young tradesman having bought of hin
and paid for bag Of coffee, proceede,
TO wheel II home himself, the shrew,
ola merchant Immediately offered I,
trust his customer for rs many bags a
he might desire. The trait of charac
ter revealed by the young man in bein,
his own porter, had given the millionair,
confidence in him at once. His repnta
ton was made with Girard He becam,
favored dealer with the enterprisine
merchant, throve rapidly, and in the enc
made fortune. ."-Erchange
That sort of thing might have worked
well enough with old Girard, but it DOM
fool anybody now. have tried it,
bought half pound Of tea at Penderry's
the other day, after reading the above
paragraph, and wheeled it home in the
most Ostentations manner, to see if Pen.
derry, who was looking on, wouldn't
offer to trust me for all the tea that ]
wanted, but he didn't On the contrary.
overheard him speak up sharp to a
clerk as went around the corner, asking
him II that ten was paid for ?"
l afterward took wheelbarrow and
went to -four store on Central Avenue.
Bought small bag of -four, twenty five
pounds | think, and loaded it on. The
head OF the concern looking at me with
apparent interest.
Now" / thought, sis my opportu-
nifty. This is Girard feller He will
tell me to come and get all the -four can
wheel away, and pay when l get ready.
Perhaps he will offer me partnership
i'll his store"
Then spat on my hands and whipped
them over my shoulders to encourage
a vigorous circulation, rubbed them to-
gether smartly, and clutching the han
dies of the barrow started off at a brisk
trot. had proceeded about a square
when / heard some one shouting after
me. Looked around and saw the -four
man coming on dead run.
" Ha, ha ~ thought l, "the thing
works admirably. The example of Steve
Girard is not lost | have revealed
trait of character in being my own por-
ter, to say nothing of my beer, and nv
fortune is made. The -four and feed
man recognizes my merits, and comes to
offer me partnership.
rs he approached l saw he had some
money in his hand "He is Mt 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 l had pictured Girard's |
to have worn when he gave
-he carte blanche for coffee.
While rejecting that it might be "his
way" he said : Sir, want you to go
light back to my store"
6 1t is coming now," though 1 did not
lulte like his tone. Wheelbarrows
re about to receive their reward He
s going to offer me a partnership per-
laps to turn over his entire business to
ne. was consequently elated.
Then said to the flour and feed man.
just as though didn't know you know.
he clever things he meant to do for me-
May / inquire for what purpose, sir %
Certainly you may" he replied,
rowning worse than ever. "You showed
his one dollar counterfeit bill to my ,
lerk, and YOU must come back till get !
policeman. Oh you needn't try to
ook so innocent spicioned you when /,
saw you coming round to my store
, get such little jag o -four !
S that. Watched We to see We didn't =
zeal nothin'. You see you can't fool an :
Id hand like me-"
Here was turn in affairs that would !;
stonish old Girard himself. L tried to i
xplain. Assured him that l supposed !.
he note to be genuine. He was incred- !
lous for time, and was disposed to Il
ave me locked up and the wheelbarrow :
etained as witness, but finally let me u
I on my redeeming the note :,
The wheelbarrow business is all a hum
lg. A man can't make a character in Il
~ such way. And the chances are !
lat he will lose what little he starts out .
it'll. ="