The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-11-03
"Thc Whcclbarrow Business,


young tradesman having bought of him
and paid for bag of coffee, proceeded
to wheel IL home himself, tho shrewd
old merchant Immediately offered to
trust his customer for as many bags as
hc might desire. The trait of charac.
ter revealed by the young man in being
his own porter had given the million
aire confidence in him at once. His
reputation was made with Girard. Ue
became favored dealer with the enter.
prising merchant, throve rapidly, and
in the end made fortune. ."-Erchange
This sort of thing might have worked
well with old Girard, but IL don't fool
anybody now. l have tried it.
bought half a pound of tea at Penderry's
the other day, after reading the above
paragraph, and wheeled it home in the
most ostentatious manner, 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 con-
trary, heard him speak up sharp to a
clerk as l went around the corner, ask.
ing him II that tea was paid for.
l afterwards took heelbarroW and
went to flour store on Central Ave-
nue.. Bought small bag of -four, %
pounds, | think, and loaded it on, the
head of the concern looking at me with
apparent interest.
Now l thought, is my opportunity.
This is Girard feller lie will tell me
to come aud get all the -four / can
wheel away, and pay when l 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 vigorous circulation,
rubbed them together smarty, and
clutching the handles of the barrow,
started off at brisk trot. / had pro.
ceeded about a square, when l heard
some one shouting after me. Look
ed around, and saw the -four man com.
ing on dead run.
Ha, ha' thought I, the thing works
admirably. The example of Steve Gil.
rard is not lost. L have revealed trait
of character in being my own porter, to
say nothing of my beer, and my for
tune IS made. The flour and feed man
recognizes my merits, and comes to offer
me full partnership. AS he approach
ed, 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
/ x,-ha T ;nt, Of "A l'a,a o.,
nance to have worn when he gave the
carte blanche for coffee.
While rejecting that it might be 'his
way he said: Sir, want you to go
right back with me to my store
1T is coming now though did rot
quite like his tone. 'Wheelbarrows are
about to receive their reward. lie is
| going to offer me partnership ; per-
haps to turn over his entire business to
me- was consequently elated. Then
L said to the flour and feed man (just as
though 1 didn't know, you know, the
clever things he meant to do for me,)
May 1 enquire for what purpose, sir?'
Certainly, you may he replied,
with darker frown than before. You
showed this one dollar counterfeit bill
to my clerk, and you must come back
till get a policeman. o, you needn't
tryto look so innocent. 1 suspicioned
you when saw you coming round to
my store to get such little Jag of flour
as that. Watched ye to see didu't steal
nothln'. You see you can't fool an old
| hand like me'
Here was turn in affairs that would
have astonished old Grard himself l
tried to explain. Assured him that l
supposed the note to be genuine. He
was incredulous for a time, and was
disposed to have me locked up and the
wheelbarfow detained as witness
but he finally let me off on redeeming
the note.
The whcelbarrow business Is all a
humbug. A man can't make charac-
ter in any such way. And the chances
are that he will lose what little he starts
out in the world with.
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