The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-11-09
Mr.. Gould's Early Life.

In giving his testimony before the
Senate Committee, Mr.. Gould said that
there was very little in his career that
he thought would interest the commit
tee or the public, but he was willing to
tell all that there was. and he continued
rs follows:
81 was born at Roxbury, Delaware
County, this state, May p, 1886. My
father was small farmer, who kept n
dairy of twenty cows. | was the only
tiers in milking the COWS both morning
and night, and drove them to and from
the pasture. AS / was obliged to go
barefoot during the summer, aud often
had nv feet pricked by the thistles
about the fields and pastures conclud-
ed didn't like farming, and so one
day asked my father to allow me TO go
to o school, which was situated about
fifteen miles distant for home. He re-
piled that rs wasn't worth much about
the farm he would give me my time. l
found blacksmith near the school
who would board me if l would write
up his books at night. / was then about
IA years of age. / attended school for
year, and then obtained n clerkship
liz country store, where was obliged
to work from 6 a. m. to 10 p. NJ. By
this time / had acquired q taste for
mathematics, especially surveying. BY
getting up ut 3 o'clock in the morning
and studying until l obtained n good
knowledge of the latter branch, and at
length started out to find employment
as n surveyor.
81 made an engagement with man
who was making map of Ulster Coun-
ty ut salary of 800 a month and ex-
penses. When he sent me out with my
instruments to survey a portion of the
country he gave me pass-book, and
told me to get trusted for my board at
the several places through which /
passed, and he would pay the bills. /
soon found that the people were not
willing to trust my employer. The Sec
ond day out presented my pass-book
to the man who had entertained me, and
told him to put down the expense. He
looked at me very angrily, and then
said: Il guess you don't know your
employer. He's failed three times al
ready. You've got money, and I'm
going to have it, This frightened me,
but 1 managed to explain to him that
didn't have cent, and in proof of the
statement / turned my pockets inside
out. Convinced of my honesty, he said
he would trust me until could pay the
bill. l thanked him for his considera-
ton and left the house. AS walked
along the road l felt as IL my heart
would break with grief. / could see
nothing ahead but failure and misery.
In my dispair went into the woods
and had good cry. Then got down
on my knees and prayed"
Mr.. Gould's voice trembled and his
eyes filled with tears as he said this.
Senator Blair was deeply moved by the
recital. The effect upon the audience
was marked. For a moment not
sound was heard except the rumbling
of the teams over the pavements in the
streets below.
when / arose." continued Mr..
Gould, II had made up my mind to go
ahead. Late that afternoon, having
had nothing to eat since morning, l
called at farmhouse and received
some bread and meat from the hands of
a kind-hearted woman. just as was
leaving the yard her husband called me
back and asked me to fix north-and-
south line by which the time of day
might be determined 1 did so, and re-
ceived. after paying for my lunch, seven
shillings. 1t was the first money had
earned since ] started out, and OF
course il gave me new courage aud
confidence In myself. The man for
whom was working at length failed.
! proposed to the other Young men who