The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-03-28
A Wheel-barrOw Game.

Il a young tradesman having bought
OF him and paid for a bag of coffee, pro-
ceeded to wheel it home himself, the
shrewd old MERCHANT Immediately offered
to trust his customer 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 con-
tidence In him at once. His reputation
was made with Girard. He became n
favored dealer with the entreprising
merchant, throve rapidly, and in the end
mad a fortune" e."-Exchange.
That sort of thing might have worked
well enough with old Girard, but it 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 if Pen
derry, who was looking on, wouldn't offer
to trust me for all the tea that 1 wanted,
but he didn't. On the contrary, over
heard him speak up sharp to a clerk as
| went around the corner asking him if
that tea was paid for ?"
| afterward took a wheelbarrow and
went to a -four store on Central Avenue.
Bought small bag of -four, twenty-five
pounds, | thi nix, and loaded it on. The
head of the concern looking at me with
apparent interest. N
Now" | thoughBsy is my opportunity.
This is Girard feller. He will tell me
to come and get all the -four l can wheel
away and pay when 1 get ready. Per-
haps he will offer me partnership in his
store"
Then l spat on my hands and whipped
them over my shoulders to encourage
vigorous circulation. rubbed them togeth-
er smartly, and clutching the handles of
the barrow started off at brisk trot.
had proceeded about a square when I
heard some one shouting after me-
| looked around and saw the -four man
coming on dead run.
Ha, ha!" thought I, the thing
works admirably. The example of Steve
Girard is not lost. l have revealed a
trait of character in being my own porter
to say nothing of my beer, and my
fortune is made. The flour and feed
man recognizes merits, and comes to offer
me partnership,
AS he approached 1 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 I 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," though did not
quite like his tone. Wheelbarrows are
about to receive their reward. He is 60
ing to offer me a partnership; perhaps to
turn over his entire business to me-" I
was consequently elated.
Then l said to the -four and feed man,
just as though l didn't know, you
know, the clever things he meant to do
for me,-"May inquire for what pur-
pose, sir |"
Certainly you may" he replied, frown-
ing worse than ever. You showed this
one dollar counterfeit bill to my clerk, and
you must come back till l get policeman.
Oh you need't try to look so innocent!I
'spicioned you when l saw you coming
round to my store to get such little jag
o flour as that. Watched ye to see ye
didn't steal nothin'. You see you cant
fool an old hand like me-"
Here was a turn in affairs that would as
tonish old Girard himself | tried to ex-
plain. Assured him that 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 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.
The Fat Contributor.