Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1872-03-14
FISKEANA.
The CoIoneI's First and Second Mistake

| The CoiOneI's First and Second Mistake
Eli Perkins, in the New York Commercial
Adoerttser, adds the following chapter to his
anecdotes of the late James Fisk, Jr.
| Yesterday called at the Erie office Col
Fisk's old chair was vacant, and his desk was
draped in mourning. His old associates were
SILENT or gathered in groups to tell over remi.
nisences of the dead Colonel, whose memory
Is beloved and revered. Gould never tires
telling about Fisk's good qualities. a
3' risks FIRST MISTAKE. f& "s
Fisk used to often tell about mis- first mis-.
take in life. @ f49i.s.t..
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" tts III" ~ l.f n..a as.s
Said he, "James, the stable window is pretty
high for boy, but do you think you could
take this shovel and clean out this stable ?''
II don't know, pop" said james, 81
never have done it. 3'ay"& werw p aa.
swell, my boy, if you will do it this morn
ing, III give you this bright silver dollar, /"
SAID his father, patting him on the head,
while he held the silver dollar before his
eyes. IH@T5-}.aI h@& ..s.4U "a. F'
"Good," says James, sIIl 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 dol
lar. saying: a'6! ."a,1le'0 haa ln III
That's right, James, you did it splendidly;
and now find you can do it SO nicely, / shall
have you do it every morning all winter" 80
MISTAKE NO. 2. ..' '',l'
Fisk said his second mistake occurred in
mat,irer years-when he first became asso-
ciated with Gould in the Erie office Galah
r" How was ?" asked Col. Rucker. ..'..
=. "Well,Y SAID Fisk, ",Gould had some wo-
man litigation on hand, and he came to me
and said he wanted to use my name" ia.'8
What for?" said /. ,a''1aH ,HaU
swell" said Gould, "you know my wife
is very sensitive, and you know this woman
you don't care, so just let me use your name
for week in this case" 1; u 'rar a
''What was the result colonel?" asked
Rucker.
"Result? why, by thunder, Gould used my
name one week and there wasn't anything
left of it. 1t was used up. He got it 80 mixed
up and scandalized that never could retain
it, and felt as if l didn't care d-n about
1t afterwards"
One day poor, plain, blunt man stumbled
into Fisk room. Said he: il fG~..
"Colonel, I've heard you are generous
man, and I've come to ask a great favor"
"Well, what is it, my good MANI" asked
Fisk. : T." .aA.sI @1II
~ want to get to Lowell, sir, to my wife,
and haven't a cent Of money in the world"
said the man, in firm, manly voice. ...'.
"Where have you been?" asked the colonel,
dropping his pen. ..@ ''"n -
81 don't want to tell you, " replied the man,
dropping his head. r'....'... s..s.rs,,'
nesn 9ut y .v;a with ri It my man. where have you
"Well, sir, I've been to Sing Sing State
Prison" 9 Ill.,. -a - m -tr
"What for?' .,..... CO... .-.
"Grand larceny, sir. was put in for five
years, but was pardoned out yesterday after
staying four years and half. ] am here,
hungry and without money" a[ sne'
( ''All right, my man" said Fisk, s'you shall
have pass, and here--here is five dollars.
Go and get meal of vituals and then ride
down to the boat in an Erie coach like gen.
tleman. Commence life again, and if you are
honest and want a lift come to me-" a...,.,
Perfectly bewildered, the poor convict took
the money, and six months afterwards Fisk
got a letter from him. He was doing thriv-
ing mercantile business, and said Fsk's kind
ness and cheering words gave him the first
hope-his first strong resolve to become a
man. -E z.i st'..' #+..
oLASA AMI WAlI1s
Ten minutes after the poor convict left,
poor young negro preacher called. -
"What do you want? Are you from Sing
Sing, too ?" asked Fisk.
"No, sir; I'm q Baptist preacher from
Hoboken. Iwant to go to Howard seminary,
in Washington" said the negro. ,.:a4
"All 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. ~
..4 .:... REPARTEE. t
One day Fisk was travelling to Niagara with
his brother-in-law, Hooker. The directors
car passed car full of calves
'There Colonel, there are some of your re-
lations, said Hooker, laughing.
''Ies, relations by marriages." said Fisk.
CHARITY AND FUN. -.
One day the Colonel was walking up twen-
ty- third street to dine with one of the Erie
when a poor beggar came along.
The beggar followed after them, saying in
plaintiff tone, ''please give me dime, gen.
tlemen p -.
The gentleman accompanying took out
roll of bills and commenced to unroll them, |
thinking to find half or quarter
'.Here, man, said Fisk, seizing the whole !
roll and throwing it on the sidewalk, stake |
the pile" '1&.Hl ~. n#-1a a.z''.A5
Then looking into the blank face of his
friend, he said, .Thmderation, Sam, you
never count charity, do yon?" - -,
''But, great guns, Colonel, there. was $50 |
in that ROLL" sffsi. 10 "..ar
':Neyer mind" said Fisk, 'then I'll stand |
the supper tonight" zgra,1 Liz y E-a Il
b: l..- -, GRAVEYARD FENCE. sar.ff Ga II