The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-07-09
A Characteristic AnecdOte OF stephen
Glirard.

Stephen Girard was a remarkable man.
In his Office was young man as clerk,
who attended to his duties very intelli-
gently and faithfully. This had attracted
the attention of Mr.. Girard, for nothing
escaped him. One morning he came into
The Office, and, calling the clerk, re-
last night"
Dreamed of me p returned the clerk,
In surprise.
eyes; saw form and heard voice.
The form was your own, and the voice
said: This man is your best clerk, but
he should be cooper. Merchants fail,
but coopers are always sure of living
by their trade So you must leave me,
and learn to be first-rate cooper. /
never 60 contrary to my dreams. They
often tell me how to proceed. l trust in
them as l do in my own judgment, and /
obey them conscientiously. Go and get
a place to learn the trade of cooper, and
when you can make a barrel come and
see me again"
but he had no fear of toll, and
he knew that he would lose nothing by
falling in with the directions of Mr.. Gil
rard. Accordingly he settled up his af-
fairs at the Office, and in few days en-
gagged with Mr.. Girard's cooper to learn
the trade. During long period he kept
steadily at work and made excellentpro-
gress.
Meanwhile Mr.. Grrard had not for
gotten him. He often saw the young
man in his overalls on the wharves at
work, and he always spoke encouragingly
to him. He had not made up his mind
as to what he would do for him, but he
was greatly pleased at the successful car
rying out of his dream. On one occasion,
as he came from the wharf, he muttcred /:
"My young cooper is doing well. He
is man, every inch OF him. l must give
him helping hand"
A few nights subsequently the old man
was sleeping calmly in his humble look
ing apartment. His real wealth did not
show itself in anything about him. The
furniture was Old-fashioned, and all the
were strictly after the plain
taste of the owner As he slumbered his
was calm and without the
trace of a single care. At times slight
smile fitted over his face, and he seemed
to be in pleasant dream. His slumbers
continued for considerable time, when
he suddenly awoke. He rubbed his eyes
and then spoke:
"Ah, hap he said. "T've had dream
again about my young cooper. ] thought
that I'd heard something about him
again. There is a good spirit looking af-
ter his welfare, surely. when he fin
ishes his apprenticeship, and is good
cooper, give him twenty thousand dollars
to start in business whispered voice in
my ear. OF course will. Heis worthy
of encouragement. The money will go
into good hands. OF course ! will give
it to him, but i'm my own way. All, ha |!
I've plan for that"
Soon the old man dropped into SUM
Der again. He had the same calm cOun-
tenance and the same serene smile. His
life was devoid of all evil and his dreams
were of good deeds in store for the future.
Time passed on. One day the young
man called at Mr.. Girard's Office. He
was in the garb of a mechanic, and he
looked healthful and sinewy from man.
ual labor.
"Good day, Mr.. Girard," he said, as
the old gentleman turned to him with a
warm greeting. 81 have come to tell
you am good cooper now. I've serv-
ed my entire time"
"Can you make good barrel?"
GAS good as any cooper in Philadel-
phia."
snake me twenty and bring them here
yourself"
The young man went off and i'm anhOur
was hard at work at the barrels. He
was really superior workman, and when
the twenty barrels were completed they
were the admiration of all in the snop.
When they had been placed in Mr.. Gil
rard's store he examined every one OF
them with the closest scrutiny. He look
ed at the slaves, the hoops, the heads,
the shape, the cutting and the driving,
and i'm the end remarked to the cooper,
who was anxiOusly waiting for his YER
dict:
"Those are good barrels. I never saw
better. You have learned your trade
and done your part faithfully. Come
into the counting room and I'll now do
mine."
The couple went into the Office. The
old mans face was beaming with pleas
IRE and satisfaction, and the young mans
was flushed and pale by turns, from the
peculiar circumstances of the moment.
Mr.. Girard took down his check book
and wrote check. This he cut out, and
then turning to the young man, said:
"My young friend, listen to me. Your
fidelity, promptness and energy attracted
my attention. Then ] had dream
about you mentioned long time ago.
You acted with alacrity upon the sugges.
ton in consequence of that dream, and
to-day you stand before me skilled in a
trade. / have dreamed of you in the
meantime. A good spirit whispered in
my ear to give you twenty thousand
dollars. You have made for me twenty
superior barrels, for which will pay you
one thousand dollars each, making twenty
thousand dol lars in ALL"
Mr.. Girard at this juncture placed in
the hands of the agitated young man the
check he had prepared.
"Now," he continued, "you have a
capital to commence business as a mer-
chant if you see fit. Should disaster
overtake you, go to your trade again."
The young man broke into a torrent
of thanks, but Mr.. Girard abruptly stop
ped him saying:
"YOu lose interest OH your money while
you talk. 1 have fulfilled my dream
and done justice by you. Good morn
ing"
Here this strange interview ended.
The young man went away with the deep
est gratitude in his heart and resOlu-
ton to make man in business worthy OF
the respect of his generous benefactor.
He subsequently became one of the first
merchants of Philadelphia. This Incl
dent is one of the most singular in the
history of Mr.. Girard, and no less in the
annals Of dreams.