Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-26
a BOY WITH BRAINS.

j
A BOY WITH BRAINS.
And How He wade his way in the
World.
New York Cor. Boston JOurnall
A boy finished his education and
looked around for employment. He
was a bright lad with a healthy or
ganism and a resolute heart. His
father had given him all he had to
give him, and the boy took his bun
die and turned his steps toward the
city. There was nothing about
him to insure success, apparently,
that ninety boys out of a hundred
did not have. Young as he was, he
had some rules. He would keep
out of bad company. He would 60
into no business that was not repu-
table. He would not be idle. He
would take any business, even if
the pay was poor, that would give
him a living. lie would try TO
make every position stepping.
stone to something better. What
ever he did he would do cheerfully
and do it well. His uncle once told
him that civility was a poor mans
capital. He had some of that
stock, and he proposed to invest it.
He trotted around a week, asking
the stereotyped question, "Do you
want boy, sir?" Nobody wanted
a boy. Endurance was one of his
traits, and he held on. A man kept
II small seed store just off Broad.
way. He wanted a boy, but be
could not pay much. Position, moi
money, was what the boy was after,
and he thankfully accepted that
place. The work was hard, the
pay poor. lie shirked nothing and
never grumbled. His cherry,
smart way of doing things attracted
! the attention of the bank where his
master kept his account. He wa:
offered a place in the institution.
His heart bounded at the offer. he
was too honorable to take advan,
tage of his employer, so he went to
the store and talked to him. Idc
not want you to 60" said the man,
"but you are worth a great deal
more than / can afford to pay YOU.
| The next week he was installed as
check clerk. The business of the
bank was very large. 1t was main.
ly with marketmen, and the checks
we're small. Out of a hundred mol
two would be over ten dollars. The
work was immense.
A STEP UPwRAD.
One day a porter said to the
young clerk, "Your work is hare
and your pay small you can never
rise in this bank. A new bank il
to be opened Monday; they want Q
check clerk. Why don't you ap
IplyY 81 know you very we'll, ,
said the officer. 81 would be glaG
to have you in the bank, but l car
not pay you any more than you are
now getting. You will have to take
the lowest round of the financia
ladder, and l don't see what yor
would gain" 81 see," said the dis
cerning lad; "give me the position
and III ran the finances" In foul
months he kept the individual
ledger. In six months he was book.
keeper. In a few months he wa,
receiving teller. In ten years from
f the time he first entered the bank
, he was elected cashier Of one of The
largest moneyed institutions of New
York.
He had marked financial talent
He learned the principle Of bank
ing. He knew every principle tina
underlay the system. He had thu
, intuition of woman. lie tool
, the measure of a man at a glance
and seldom made a mistake. HI
came earlier and left later than an,
of his associates. He lent help
! ing hand to every department.. l
a clerk wanted an hours absenc,
, he supplied his place. If a youny
man was bothered or in trouble HI
would assist him. With the Gus
toners Of the bank he was eminent
D ly popular. As it neared 3 o'clocl
he would say, "Don't crowd, gen
! tlemen; don't crowd. You shall
! have plenty Of time.p When dis
counts would be denied or ugly Gus
toners to DO dealt with in the bank
! the young teller was put forward t.
:. do the unpleasant work. His blan,
and pleasant manner disarmed th
! disappointment Of half its sting.
, -------a--s-. .n------
3 The GoOa OId EngIish Admiral.
5 Cornhill Magazine.l
t Duncan, lying off the Texel wit
e his own flagship, the Venerable
s and only one other vessel, hear
: that the whole Dutch fleet was puI
5 ting to sea. He told Captain Hc