Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-10-02

The following stories are told Of two Nan
tucket boys vino after ward became famous in
their several walks Of life. Both died within
few years, upwards Of 50 years Of age
.he one Captain Stephen West, sailing as
whaling captain for most of the time, and
always, except in his last voyage, in the en-
ploy of Seth Russell & Sons, Of New Bed
ford: the other, Hon. Jacob Barker. as
merchant and banker in New York and
Orleans, achieving and losing a colossal for
tune, and well known in this country and
Europe for his shrewdness, energy and capa
city. Captain West commenced his career
as a boy on board the sloop Speedwell, Of
New Bedford. and it was while in the Speed
well that Jacob Barker, then eight years old
came to him with a ninepence (twelye and
half cents) which he had had presented to
him. and said Stephen wish thee would
invest this money, on thy arrival in Boston,
in something that will pay stephen ac-
cepted the business. promising to give it his
best attention.
On the arrival Of the vessel in Boston he
looked abou. for proiita le Investment.
Going up Long wharf he passed table
where an old woman had exposed for sale in
tempting order her stock of applies, nuts and
candies. Amongst the assortment Stephens
attention was attracted by the sight OF some
beautiful sticks of sugar candy, white in the
centre, and entwined with stripes Of red in
the most attractive form. 1t was the first of
the kind he had seen, and he Immediately
decided on purchase and procured twelve
sticks On the arrival of the Speedwell at
Nantucket, Jacob was already on the wharf,
more anxious for the result Of this first ad-
venture than afterwards for the argosics Of
wealth that bore their burdens to his stores.
The first salutatiOn was, - Stephen. hast thee
purchased any thing for me?" The reply was
ths he had, but the vessel must first be Sc
cured, the sails handed and the decks cleared
before the cargo could be discharged
Jacobs anxious hands soon aided in furling
the jib and getting everything in order,
when they ''went below and Stephen
spread before his delighted eyes the first mer-
camille investment.
Highly delighted he stepped on the wharf
and was soon surrounded with n dozen boys,
with whom he commenced lis trade and
with such success that before he lad reached
the store at the head of the wharf he had
sold the whole adventure for thirty-seven
and a half cents, making what he termed - Il
very good turn of it, This was the first
act, or turn of business. that this great mer-
chant and financier accomplished, and not
even those very heavy loans. to which our
government in the days of her financial DIFF
fculty was obliged to resort to him for aid,
gave him so mnch pleasure as this first ad-
venture of his boyhood.
But this adventure would be of slight in
terest had it not sequel in the lapse of time
Several years afterwards, Mr.. Barker had be-
come confidential clerk to the substantial
mercantile house OF Isaac Hicks Il Sons,
New York Mr.. West arrived in New York.
an officer in the ship g Brothers, Captain
Thaddeus Waterman, from Liverpool
While in Liverpool Mr.. West had laid in a
lot OF beer. On his arrival in New York he
was much troubled and perpexed Tor money
to pay duties, then high, and the other mat
tiers relating to it. The adventure was in