The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-01-27
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FISK IAN A.
The COlOneTS First and second Mlsdake
his Charity His LRst JOke.

''El Perkins,, In the New York Com
mercial Advertiser, adds the following chap
ter to his anecdotes of the late Jane.
Fisk, Jr.:
Yesterday | called at the Erie office. Col
Fisk's chair was vacant, and his desk was
draped in mourning. His old associates
were silent, or gathered in groups, to talk
over "reminiscences of the dead colonel,
whose memory is beloved and revered.
Mr.. Gould never tires telling about Fisk's
good qualities.
FISKs FIRST MISTAKE.
Fisk used to often tel. about his first
mistake i'll life.
Said the colonel when | was little
boy on the Vermont farm, my father took
me up to the stable one day, where row
Of cows stood in the stable"
Said he, James, the stable window is
pretty high for boy, but do you think
you could take this forl. and clean out
the stable n
~ don't know, pop said James, l
never have done it. !"
''Well, my boy, if you will do it this
morning, Ill give you this bright silver
dollar, said his father, patting him on the
head, while he held the silver dollar before
his eyes.
Good" says James, 'Tll try" and
away he went to work He tugged, and
pulled and lifted, and puffed and, finally,
it was done, and his father gave him the
bright silver dollar, saying
That's right, james, you did it splen-
didly and now that lind you can do it so
nicely, | shall have you do it EVERY MORN
ING ALL WINTER :"
MISTAKE NUMBER 2.
Fisk said his second mistake occurred in
maturer years-when he first became asso-
ciated with Gould in the Erie office.
How was it, asked Colonel Rucker.
'Well," said Fisk. Gould had some
woman litigation on hand, and he came to
me and said he wanted to use my name"
''What for" said l.
"Well, Fisk" said Gould, ''you know
my wife is very sensitive, and you know
Now, you know you don't care, 30 lust let
me use your name for a week in this case I"
what was the result, colonel" asked
Rucker.
Result why, by thunder, Gould used
my name one week, and there wasn't any
thing left Of it. 1t was used up. He got
it so mixed up and scandalized that never
could retain it, and felt | didn't care a
damn about it afterwards.
LITTLE PETER.
Fisk's little Peter was ten years old, and
small at that. Frequently large men would
come into the Erie Office, and "bore the
H.
Here Peter take this man in custody,
and hold him under arrest SRtil we send
for him =
CHARITY.
One day q poor, plain, blunt man STUN
bled into Fisk's room. Said he
Colonel, I've heard you are generous
man, and I've come to ask great favor "
Il want to go to Lowell, sir, to my wife,
and haven't accent Of money in the world, y
said the man in firm, manly voice.
Where have you been n asked the Co
lionel, dropping his his pen.
81 don't want to tell you, replied the
man dropping his head
Out with it, my man, where have you
been r. said Fisk.
well, sir, I've been to Sing Sing state
prison.
what for r.
''Grand larceny, sir. was put in for
five years, but was pardoned out yesterday,
after staying four years and One-half. | am
here, hungry. and without money"
''All right, my man, said Fisk kindly,
''you shall have pass, and here-here is
50. Go and get meal Of victuals, and
then ride down to the boat iii an Erie coach,
like gentleman. Commence life again,
and if you are honest and want a lift, come
to me-
Perfectly bewildered, the poor convict
took the money, and six months afterward
Fisk got letter from him. He was doing
thriving mercantile business, and said
Fisk's kindness and cheering words gave
him the first hope-his first strong resolve
to become a man.
BLACK AND WHITE.
Ten minutes after the poor convict left, a
poor young negro preacher called.
'What do you want Are you from Sing
Sing, toog asked Fisk
No, sir; I'm a Baptist preacher, from
Hoboken, want to go to Howard's semi
nary, in Washington, said the negro.
IAN right, Brother johnson, said Fisk.
Here Conner, he said, addressing his sec
retary, ''give Brother johnson $40, and
charge it to charity" and the colonel went
on writing, without listening to the stream
of thanks from the delighted negro.
REPARTEE.
One day Fisk was travelling to Niagara
with his brother-in-law, Hooker. The di-
rector's car passed car full of calves.
''There, colonel, there are some Of your
relations, said Hooker, laughing.
Eyes, relations by marriage" said Fisk.
CHARITY AND FUN.
One day the colonel was walking up
Twenty-third street to dine with one Of the
Erie directors, when a poor beggar came
along. The beggar followed after them,
saying, in plaintive tone, please give me
dime, gentlemen :"
The gentleman accompanying Fisk took
out a roll of bills and commenced to unroll
them, thinking to find a half or a quarter.
Here, man - said Fisk, seizing the
whole roll and throwing it on the sidewalk,
take the pile"
Then looking into the blank face Of his
friend he said, 'Thunderation, Sam, you
never count charity, do YOU"
But, great guns, colonel, there was $40
in that roll
Never mind" said Fisk, ''then I'll
stand the supper tonight"
GRAVEYARD FENCE.
Somebody in Brattleboro came down to
New York to ask Fisk for donation to