Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-18
/" The Wheelbarrow Business .

"IT is related of Girard that when 1
young tradesman having bought of him
and paid for bag Of coffee, proceeded to
wheel it home himself, the shrewd old
merchant Immediately offered to trust hil
customer Tor as many bags as he might de-
sire. The trait of character revealed by
the young man in being his own porter
had given the millionaire confidence il
him at once. His reputation was made
with Girard. He became favored
dealer with the enterprising merchant
throve rapidly, and in the end made for.
tune. "-Erchange
That sort of thing might have worked
well enough with old Girard, but it don't
fool anybody now. have tried it.
bought half pound of tea at Penderry'e
the other day, after reading the above
paragraph, and wheeled it home in the
most ostentatious manner, Just to see il
Penderry, who was looking on, wouldn'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 il
that tea was paid for?
afterward took wheelbarrow and
went to flour store on Central avenue
bought small bag Of -four, twenty-five
pounds, l think, and loaded it on, the
head Of the concern looking at me with
apparent interest.
Now" thought, is my opportunity.
This is Girard Teller. He will tell me
to come and get all the -four I can wheel
away, and pay when I get ready. Per
haps he will offer me partnership in 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 ham
dies of the barrow, started of at brisk
trot l had proceeded about square
when heard some one shouting after me.
Looked around, and saw the flour man
coming on dead run.
Ha, ha!' thought /, the thing works
admirably. The example of Steve Girard
is not lost. have revealed 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 severe look on his face as he
came up to me which did not accord at
all with what / had pictured Girard's
countenance to have worn when he gave
the carte blanche for coffee.
While rejecting that it might be his
way" he said: "Sir, l want you to go
right back to my store"
" 1t is coming now" thought /, though
did not quite like his tone. Wheelbar-
rows are about to receive their reward.
He is going to offer me a partnership; per
haps to turn over his entire business to
me-" l was consequently elated.
Then I 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,
frowning worse than ever "You showed
this counterfeit bill to my clerk, and you
Oh! you needn't try to look SO innocent |!
I 'spicioned you when saw you running
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"
Here was turn in affairs that would
astonish old Girard himself. I tried to
explain. Assured him that l supposed the
note to be genuine. He was incredulous
for 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 a hum
bug. A man can't make character in any
such way. And the chances are that he
will lose what little he starts out with
Fat Contributor.