The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-02-03
A YOUNG MANS WEALTH.
The Story Of the Elder senrs-.From POVERTY
. Cd 90 to High Fortune. rH r.# tr..

$50 to Hish Fortune. r.|u-I
A paragraph has been going the
roundsof the papers detailing the wealth
left young Sears, now q men Der of the
junior class of Yale College. The estate
left the young man under certain re-
strictions is valued at $9,OO0,O 900. The
New York Sttn, through its Boston cor
respondent, tells the following story Of
the father of young Sears:
Joshua Sears wealth did not descend
to him through long line of plethoric
ancestors. His father was an honest
fisherman at Yarmouth, with several
children, whom he sought to bring up
to habits Of industry, frugality, filial
piety, and contentment. They were all
good children, and profited by their
fathers precepts; all except the young
est boy, Joshua, the father Of the pres
cut heir. Joshua, though in childhood
the pride of the family circle, developed
as he grew up ON impatient, discomfort
ed disposition, which was sore trial to
his fathers heart. In common with
Charles and Thomas, the older sons,
Joshua was taught at an early age all the
mysteries Of the fisherman's calling, but,
though he was taught all these arts, his
father observed with pain that Joshua
practiced them in desultory manner,
which showed that his heart was not in
the work. On the day when Joshua
reached the age of seventeen, the honest
fisherman, taking two hoes in his hand,
and giving Joshua a basket, invited him
to an expedition in search of CLANS. As
usual, Joshua showed little enthusiasm
in the game, but scratched away with
his hoe in so half-hearted manner that
the clans had no difficulty in evadinp
bis pursuit, and his father had half fill,
ed the basket before Joshua had captur.
ed single clam. Leaning upon his hoe,
the old man watched his sons efforts fo,
a moment, and then said "Joshua. /
fear you will never make great fisher
man." "I am afraid not, father" saic
Joshua. "You have no energy, Joshua
and you have no patience" said the ole
man. Without energy and patience
you can never expect to amount to any
thing"
One week from that day green. awk
ward lad, adorned in new suit o
homespun, and carrying long, marrow
carpet bag in his hand, was conducted
by his father to Boston, and ther,
"bound out" to serve two years in til,
employ of firm with whom the eide
Sears had long had dealings in salte,
fish. The firm were dealers in ropes
grindstones, warming pans, dry goods
and "W. I. goods" which last is th
Boston name for groceries. 1t is need
less to follow the fortunes of Joshu
through the arduous days of apprentice
ship. clerkship, and subsequent entranc
into business for himself. We all kno,
the results of energy, integrity, an,
watchfulness. He was patronized hy hi
fathers neighbors at Yarmouth: be ex
tended his trade to Gloucester, e
Maine, and to the West Indies. and
was not many years before he was send
ing out ships of his own and raking i
golden ducats faster than he could eve
have raked III fish had he remained a
Yarmouth.
Many amusing anecdotes are told G
the efforts made by his female friends t
capture him, but have space only t
mention a case which was crowned wit
; partial success. The captain of one c
his ships having died, Joshua not onl
made himself useful in settling the Of
: tate, but put graceful finish upon tn
transaction by making an offer of hi
heart and hand to the widow, who o,
, cepted him on the spot. A house wa
bought and furnished and preparation
were made for quiet wedding, but 6
the last moment Joshua's courage CAV
/ out, and the widow retired to her hom
on Cape Cod.
r The general surprise may be imagine
: when at the mature age of sixty-two h
, won and welded woman of half hi
; age, and set up ms a married man O
Cape Cod, the scene of his early fishin
| exploits. His wife, who was an amiab
/ lady, was Phoebe Snow, the daughter
{ Deacon Snow, of Brewster, Mass. ST
3 died within year of the marriage, lea,
8 ing an only child, Joshua Montgomer
t Sears, who reached his twenty fir
: birthday last Christmas. The faith,
lived two years longer and died at IL
: age of sixty-fiv