The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-10-20
The Boys Investment.

HNHE following stories are told of two
Il Nantucket boys who afterwards be-
came famous in their several walks Of life
Both died within few years, upwards of
80 years of age-the one, Capt. Stephen
West, sailing as a whaling captain for
most of the time, and always, except on
his last voyage, in the employ of Seth
Russell s. Sons of New Bedford the other,
Jacob Barker, as merchant and banker in
New York and New Orleans, achieving and
losing a colossal fortune, and we'll known
in this country and Europe for his shrewd-
ness, energy and capacity.
Captain West commenced his career as a
boy on board the sloop Speedwell of New
Bedford, and it was while in the Speedwell
that Jacob Barker, then 8 years old, came
to him with ninepence twelve and half
cents) which he had had presented to him,
and said "Stephen, wish thee would
invest this money, on thy arrivalin 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 about for prof
table investment. Going up Long Wharf
he passed table where an old woman had
exposed for sale in tempting order her stock
of apples, nuts, and candies. Amongst
this assortment Stephens attention was at
tracted by the sight of some beautiful sticks
of sugar candy white in the centre and
entwined with stripes of red in a most
attractive form. 1t was the first of the kind
he bad seen, and he Immediately decided
on purchase and procured twelve sticks.
On the arrival of the Speedwell at Nan
tucket, Jacob was already on the wharf,
more anxious for the result of this first ad-
venture than afterwards of the argosies of
wealth that bore their burdens to his stores.
the first salutation was, "Stephen, has
thee purchased anything for meP" The
reply was that he had, but the vessel must
first be secured, the sails handed and the
decks cleared before the cargo could be
discharged. Jacobs anxious hands soon
aided in furling the jib and putting every
thing in order, when they "went below"
and Stephen spread before his delighted
eyes the first mercantile investment. Highly
delighted he stepped on the wharf and was
soon surrounded by dozen boys, with
whom he commenced his trade, and with
such success that before he had reached the
store at the head of the wharf he had sold
the whole adventure for 37t cents, realizing
a profit of 200 per cent, making what he
termed ga very good turn of it." This
was the first act or turn of business that
this great merchant and inancer accom-
plished, and not even those very heavy
loans, to which our government in the day
of her financial difficulty was obliged to re-
sort to him for aid, gave him SO much
pleasure as this first adventure of his boy
hood.
| But this adventure would be of slight in
terest had it not sequel in the lapse OF
time Several years afterwards Mr.. Bark
er had become confidential clerk to the
substantial mercantile house of Isaac Hicks
& Sons, New York. Mr.. West arrived in
New York an officer in the ship Brothers,
Captain Thaddeus Waterman, from Liver
pool. While in Liverpool Mr.. West had
laid in an adventure in lot Of beer. On
his arrival in New York he was much
troubled and perplexed for money to pay
the duties, then high, and the other matters
relating to it. The adventure was in dan
ger of being lost, when he recollected that
his old friend and schoolmate, Jacob Bark
er, was in New York. Jacob had already
some fame as q clever man for business and
shrewdness, AS soon as West could leave
the ship,he sought out Barker at the count
ing-room of the Messrs. Hicks, and stated
his perplexities regarding his Liverpool ad-
venture. "Give thyself no uneasiness."
replied Jacob, "on that business, Stephen.
l will attend to it for thee. Enter the beer
at the Custom House have plenty Of
money by me to pay the duties. / will not
only pay the duties, but attend to the sell
ling OF it for thee. Thee only deliver it to
my order when send one" The next day
the order came and the beer was delivered.
In the evening while Mr.. West was writing
in the cabin, Jacob came on board and in
formed him that he had sold the beer ex-
cellently well, and in proof opened his
handkerchief and turned out on the cabin
table large sum of solid coin. The sale
was well done, and much beyond Vests
expectation but, sailor-like, he showed
back the money, saying, 'sTake your pay
Jacob, as much as you want" "Not a
cent, Stephen" was the response, fnot
cent Does thee remember the sugar