Middletown transcript., 1875-03-20
How q Lad Wheeled Himself into
Fortune and Influence.

a prominent railway corporation. re-
Gently held in Boston, there, were pre-
sent two gentlemen. both up in years.
one. however, considerably the senior Of
the other. In talking Of the old times
gone by, the younger gentleman called
the attention Of his friends, and told a
pleasant little story. which should be
read by every poor. industrious. and
striving lad We use his own language !:
NEARLY half century age, gentle
men, l was put upon the world to make
my living. I was stout, willing. and
able. considering my tender years, and
secured place in hardware store. to
do all sorts of chores required. | was
paid $75 per year for my services. One
day, after had been at werk three
months or more. my friend there. Mr..
B.. who holds his age remarkably we'll.
came into the store and bought large
bill Of shovels and tongs, sadirons and
pans, buckets. scrapers and scuttles,
for he wss to be married next day, and
was supplying the household in ad-
vance. as was the groom's custom in
those days. The articles were packed
in the barrow, and made load sufi-
ciently heavy for young mule. But
more willing than able, started of,
proud that could move such mass on
the wheelbarrow. I got on remarkably
we'll until I struck the muddy road. now
Seventh avenue, leading to my friend
BIS house. There I toiled and tugged,
and tugged and toiled, and could not
bulge the load up the hill, the wheel
going its full half diameter in the mud
every time 1 would try to propel for
ward. Finally good-natured Irish
man passing by with dray took my
barrow, self and all, on his vehicle. and
in consideration Of my promise to pay
him .'bit," landed me at my destina-
tion.
II counted the articles carefully a. I
delivered them, and. with my empty
barrow. trudged my way back. whist
ling with gles over my triumph over
difficulty. Some weeks aftsrward paid
the Iri.hman the bit and never got it
back from my employers. (Mr. B., !
am sure, would have remunerated me.
but be never before heard this story !;
50 if he is inclined he can compromise
the debt by sending me bushel Of his
rare ripe peaches next fall.) But to
the moral. A merchant had witnessed
my struggles and how zealously l had
laborsd to deliver that load of hard
ware; he even watched me to the house
and saw me count each piece as [ land
ed it at the doorway. He sent for me
the next day, asked my name told me
be had reward for my industry in the
shape Of $500 clerkship in his estab-
lishment. I,accepted, and now, after
nearly half century had passed, l look
back and say I wheeled myself into all
l swn, for that reward of perseverance
was my grand stepping stone to for
tune"
The speaker was a very wealthy
banker, a man Of influence, Of position,
and one universally respected for many
good qualities of head and heart. Boys,
take moral from this story. You do
not know how many eyes are upon yeu
to discover whether you are sluggish
and careless or industrious and willing,
or how many there are whe, if you are
moral and worthy, will give you step
ping stone to wealth and position.
Here is another story about Horace
Greeley: On certain occasion, as he
sat writing at bis editorial desk, he re-
ceived a visit from an irate man, who
spent fifteen minutes in pouring out
upon his head torrent Of denunciation
to which the abused man replied not by