Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-01-20
How Lad Wheeled Himself
into Fortune aud Influence.

At a meeting of the stockholders Of {
prominent railway corporation, recently held
/ in Boston, there was present two gentlemen
both up in years. one, however, consider
ably the senior of the other. In talking Of
the old times gone by, the younger gentle
man called the attention of his friends, and
told pleasant little story, which should be
read by every poor, Industrious, and striv-
ing lad. We use his own language:
Nearly half century ago, gentlemen,
was put upon the world TO make my living.
| was stout, willing. and able, considering
my tender years. and secured a place in a
hardware store, to do all sorts of chores
required. was paid SIS per year for my
services. One day, after had been at work
three months or more, my friend there, Mr..
B., who holds his age remarkably well.
came into the store and bought large bill
of shovels and tongs, sadiron and pans,
buckets, scrapers, and scuttles, for he was
to be married next day, and was supplying
the household in advance, as was the groom
custom in those days. The articles were
packed in the barrow, and made load
sufficiently heavy for a young mule. But
more willing than able, started of, proud
that could move such a mass on the wheel
barrow. | got on remarkably well until
struck the mud road, now Seventh avenue,
leading to my friend BIS house There
toiled and tugged, and tugged and toiled.
and could not bulge he load up the hill,
the wheel going its full half-diameter in the
mud every tim would try to propel for
ward. Finally a good-natured Irishman
passing by with a dray took my barrow,
self and all, on his vehicle, and in consider
alton of my promise to pay him bit,
landed me at my destination.
81 counted the articles carefully as
delivered them, and, with my empty barrow,
trudged my way back, whistling with glee
over my triumph over difficulty. Some
weeks afterward | paid the lrishman the
bit, and never got it back from my en-
ployers. (Mr. B., | am sure, would have
remuneraied me but he never before heard
this story; so if he is inclined he can com
promise the debt by sending me busbel of
his rare ripe peaches next fall But to the
moral. A merchant had witnessed my
struggles and how zealously | labOred TO
deliver that load of hardware; he even
watched me to the house and saw me count
each piece as | landed it in the doorway
He sent for me the next day, asked my name
told me he had a reward for my industry, in
the shape of $500 clerkship in his estab-
lishment | accepted, and now, alter nearly
half a century had passed, look back and
say wheeled myself into all | own, for that
reward of perseverance was my grand step
ping stone TO fortune"
The speaker was very wealthy banker,
a man Of influence, of position, and one uni
versally respected fer many good qualities
of head and heart. Boys, take moral
from this story. You do not know how
many eyes are upon you to discover whether
you are sluggish and careless or industrious
and willing, or how many there are who, if
you are moral and worthy, will give you a
stepping-stone to wealth and position.