The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-02-07
4 YOUNG MANS WEALTH.


To btHu foFtuuc.
4 paragraph has been going the
roundsof the papers detailing thewealth
Left young Sears, now a mo-. Der Of the
junior class OF Yale College. The estate
loft tho young man under certain re-.
strictions is valued at $4,000, 200. The
New York Sun, 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 m honest
fisherman Mt Yarmouth, with several
children, whom he sought to bring up
to habits Of industry, frugality, iilial
piety, and contentmcnt. They were all
good children, and profted by their
fathers precepts; all except tho young
est hoy, Joshua, the father of the pres
eut heir. Joshua, though in childhood
the pride OF the family circle, developed
as he grew up m impatient, discomfort
ed disposition, which was sore iriul to
hi, fathers heart. In common with
Charles and Thomas, tho older sons,
Joshua was taught ut m early ago all the
mysteries Of the fisherman's calling, but,
though he was taught all these arts, his
father observed with pain that Joshua
prlcticed them in n dosultory manner,
watch showed that his heart was not in
the work. On the dry when Joshua
reached tho age OF seventeen, tho honest
fisherman, taking two hoes in his hand,
and giving Joshua basket, invited him
to m expedition in search OF clans. As
usual, Joshua showed little enthusiasm
in the game, but scratched away with
his hoe III so halfhcarted manner that
tho clans had no difficulty in evudiug
his pursuit, and his father had half fiji.
ed the basket before Joshua Ind captur.
ed single clam. Leaning upon his hoe,
the old man watched his sons efforts for
moment, and then said: "Joshun, I
fear you will never make n great fisher
mall" Il am afraid not, father" said
Joshua. "You have no energy, Joshua,
aud You have no patience" said the old
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 a new suit of
homespun, and carrying n long, narrow
carpet bag in his hand, was conducted
by his father to Boston, and there
"bound on" to serve two years il the
employ OF Il firm with whom the cider
Scars had long had dealings in salted
fish. The firm were dealers in ropes,
grindstones, warming pans, dry goods,
md "W. I. goods" which last il the
Boston name for groceries. 1t is need
less to follow the fortunes Of Joshua
through the arduous days OF apprentice.
ship. clerkship, md subsequent entrance
into business for himself. We all know
tho results OF energy, integrity, and
watchtuluess. Ha was patronized by his
fathers reighbors at Yarmouth; be e3-
tended his trade to Gloucester, to
Maine, and to tho West Indies, aud it
was not many years before he was send
ing out ships OF his own and mixing in
golden ducats faster than no could ever
have ratel in fish had no remained ut
Yarmouth. F- :
Many amusing anecdotes arc told OF
the efforts made by his female friends to
capture him, but I have space only to
mention n case which was crowned with
partial success. The captain Of one Of
his ships having died, Joshua not only
made himself useful in settling tho es.
tate, but put graceful finish upon the
transaction by making an offer Of his
heart and hind to the widow, who ac-
copied him on the spot. A house was
bought and furnished and preparations
were made for n quiet Wedding, but ut
the last moment Joshun's courage gave
ont, and the widow retired to her home
on Cape Cod.
The general surprise may be imagined
when at the mature age Of sixty.two he
won and welded n woman OF half his
ngc, md set up rs married man on
Cape Cod, the scene Of his carly fishing
exploits. His wife, who was MI amiabl0
lady, was Phoebe Snow, the daughter OF
Deacon Snow, OF Brewster, Mass. She
died within year Of tho marriage, leay-
ing M only child, Joshua Montgomery
Sears, who reached his twenty.first
birthday last Christmas. The father
lived two years longer md died at the
age Of sixty.fve.