Connecticut western news., 1872-03-22
| REMINISCENCE OF BILLY GRAY.

Iknow of but one historic "Billy Gray" He was the most successful merchant of his time. Born of parents poor and hum ble, in the town of Lynn, Mass, he was apprenticed at an early age and when he had reached his majority he stepped forth into the world with only good name to recommend him, and firm will to do right and to deal justly to sustain him. He established himselfin business in Salem, and in fve-and- twenty years he was the wealthiest man in the town-a town in which there resided the heaviest mer chants of the State. From trouble with his townsmen, wherein he felt that he had been purposely slighted and grossly abused, he removed to Boston, taking his property and business with him. From political reasons they had refused, by vote, to promote him to the office of selectman in Salem; but shortly after his advent in Boston he was elevated to be Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts And from the time of Billy Gray's departure from Salem may be dated the decline of the foreign commerce of that town. She had been the monopolizer of the East India trade; but when Gray took his stocks and his ships to Boston he took with him the
 
 the India and Chinese traffic.
 Of the many curious and entertaining stories told of Billy Gray, will relate the following, which was recently given me by one who knew him well:
 While MT. Gray was in Salem, and after he had become the heaviest business man in the place, he desired an apprentice for his counting room-a youth who should come with the desire and will to be mer- chant, and who should possess such qual- ities as would fit him for confidential clerk and correspondent when the time of need should come; for the merchant had made it rule to bring up those employ ees who were to be most sacredly trusted under his own eye, Accordingly he advertised his want, and appointed a time when he should receive applicants. Over in Beverly lived widow named Atherton, who had been anxious to obtain a situation for her son, bright faced, fair haired boy of fifteen. She was very poor, and felt that she could keep her child no longer at home. She gained knowledge of MT. Gray's want, and bade her son ap- ply for the situation.
 "But," said the lad, trembling, "I dare not go there., He wants an apprentice for his counting-house- apprentice, not to
 trade, but to the profession of merchant
 The sons of rich men will apply. l should
 stand no chance"
 "Don't be frightened, Thomas. Remem-
 Der that MT. Gray was once as poor as we are. He will judge by their merits and not by the standing of their friends At any rate, it cannot hurt you to apply You are not afraid of Billy Gray?" "No, mother" replied the boy, proudly
 lifting his head, "I am not afraid of the man. fear no true man, but shrink from an attempt which is almost sure tt
 result in failure. And again, know tha
 the sons of more prosperous people vii
 be there; tor this advertisement carries il its intent the idea that the apprentice 7 selected is to come up in the merchant
 sanctum-within his private office. Lool } at my clothes. They will laugh at me-" "My boy I have seen Billy Ora,
 dressed in shabbier clothes than are thos you now wear. If you would please you ) mother, go."
 l And Thomas Atherton went. Arrived f at the office of the merchant he found Q score of applicants for the place adver r tised; and, as he had anticipated, anon, = them were sons of families standing higl f in the social scale.
 3 These scions of prosperity looked dow upon the son of the poor widow, an, stood apart from him and they seemed p to wonder how one so low had dared t. = aspire to the position they held in view s Thomas felt uncomfortable, but the sheer T ing glances of the better-dressed youth q aroused his self-respect, and he was deter | mined, come what may, to stand hi s ground.
 Il By and by MT. Gray entered. He wa 5 a small, wiry, pleasant-faced man, with al eye which, as one who once merited hi r reproof afterwards remarked, ''could lool ] fire, or look daggers." There were one u andtwenty applicants in all. Eight Q
 these were dismissed upon sight. Of tn g thirteen remaining the merchant selecte
 seven for examination that day, biddin a the other six to present themselves at tn
 same hour on the morrow.
 Thomas Atherton was one of the las
 named; but since he had not been permp . torily discharged, as some had been wh
 had appeared in far more tidy and fash T ionable guise than he could afford, he re a solved to bear up to the end and he wen away to call again on the morrow.
 The first boy selected from the retaine 2 seven was the son of parents well-to-d u in the world. MT. Gray examined him i those branches of education most in us s in general business affairs, and when thi e had been done he took him into 8 FOOT
 where there was a table with pen, ink an e paper upon it, and gave him short bi 't of lading to copy. He then went out, an ,. closed the door behind him, leaving tn e lad to perform his task by himself IT Half an hour afterward the applican l. was recalled, and he presented his copy
 The merchant ran his eye, over the freshl written page, and told the lad he migh $ depart, :.
 send for you"
 And after that the other six were exam s ined in the same manner, and were, i , like manner dismissed.
 On the following day the six deterre
 applicants presented themselves, and a n Thomas Atherton had been the last to aI tt ply, he was the last on the list for exam 1T ination. His five companions had bee l. disposed of, he knew not how-for the
 did not come back through the privat k ofice-when he was summoned. 1T Thomas had been diligent and stud J. ous boy at school, and in geography, his 5s tory, grammar and mathematics he prove e himself efficient. After this the merchan
 took him into the adjoining room, wher
 was the table, with the pen, ink and paper e and gave to him an invoice to copy, an n left him, remarking, as he turned away O that he had business to attend to, and ths st he-the boy-must make himself comfort ,s able until called for.
 ,t The invoice was a short one, and Thon l. as was not long in copying it. After h is had done this he leaned back in his chail g, and looked around. The apartment WE