The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-06
A Rapid Advancement to sucoess-Othes
Stories for Young Folks-Hoilnnd's Girl
Queen-whits Violet and the Pro.
fesaor-Knotty Problems.

ashamed to put his hand to honest work.
The first job which the boy secured was
that of sweeper at one of the New York
ferry-boat docks. He swept the ladies'
side, the mems side and the highway for
the horses, and ne swept every day for
eight months without stopping. To this
work he gave all his time and attention.
He was never seen loafing and talking
with the deck hands. though he always
had good word and a smile for every
| body. This unusual devotion to gen.
orally considered ignominous business at
tracted considerable attention. and one
day William was approached by police
officer. who was accompanied by a fine
looking man.
1--WE been telling this gentleman about
you," said the officer.
about me, sir?" said the lad, with
great astonishment and instinctively
touching his hat.
Eyes, I've bad my eye on you for some
time" was the answer, ''and as this gentle
man asked me to try and find him good
lad for his stable I've brought him to
you"
do you know anything about the care
of horses" the gentleman inquired.
Not a thing in the world, sir"
"Do you think you could learn"
81 would be ashamed if | couldn't, sir"
was the courageous response.
The newcomer took card from his
pocket, saying as he did so:
81 will wait for you a week, but come as
soon as you can. / will give you $50 a
month and your board, if you suit me, to
begin with"
That days sweeping William GRAY will
never forget. He took as much pains as
ever with every crack and crevice, but his
establishment and gratitude were beyond
description. How could it be, he asked
himself that so common toiler and pod-
der should have been noticed and recon-
mended to a good place? Thirty dollars a
month and board were, to the lad, small
fortune. He was not then aware that
thorough work inevitably tells its own
story everywhere, and that integrity, in
dustry and perseverance, by the immuta-
BILE laws of God, will win a way for the
humblest of his creatures.
A few days later William went to bis
new place. For three weeks he was in
structed in his duties by man hired for
the purpose. At the end OF that time he
was left with the care of a team of fine
horses and pony belonging to the only
son OF his employer.
One evening. as the owner drove into
the stable, William inquired if he would
kindly tell him where he could find some
books about horses.
II have some in my library" the gen.
tleman replied. What do you think of
doing"
"Why, you see. sir, want 10 find out
all can about them. Ii horse gets sick
it would be rather awkward not to know
what to do till we could get doctor
here"
You are right, William" was the APP
preciative answer. 81 will give you what
you want tonight. / see you have some
school books here. am afraid YOU don't
find much time to study"
"Oh, half an hour here and ten minutes
there tel, sir" William replied. "Then
this is only play after the dock work had
to do And Just think, the horses know
me; and everybody is so good to me it
does seem just like home"
And so. day alter day, the lad worked
and studied. With a little help from his
employers son, he made rapid strides in
arithmetic and grammar. while in geogra-
ply he was far in advance of his teacher
The books relating to the special subject
were eagerly read and at last the boys
employer found that he was not only
learning how to take the best care of well
horses and perfectly treat sick ones, but
he was studying their anatomy and physi-
ology, and in this way educating himself
to be an authority on the subject.
During the progress of these studies
William was asked to give his opinion on
the merits of horse which a neighbor
talked OF purchasing. The young man
looked the animal over and said with his
usual frankness, though the owner stood
by, "He's bound to be short-winded, sir,
with that build" and then, by a careful
examination of other points, proved such
a marvellous discrepancy between the real
age of the beast and the number of years
mentioned by the owner that the negotia-
tons were Immediately ended.
In such ways did this lad progress At
the age of twenty he was sent west to pur-
chase horses. He was known TO be abso-
lutely Trustworthy and incorruptible. Adj
vised by the man who had taken such an
interest in mis- welfare, he placed proper
| value on his services and his future was
secured.
William Gray is now one of the wealth
lest and one OF the most respected men in
this great country, and certainly no career
could have had a more difficult and a more
humble beginning. 1t is true that such
success is exceptional. but it is also true
that the lad who works with his heart and
his head for the interest OF his employer,
who would prefer to give an extra hours
time than to shirk a minute, and who. in
the hours of business, is to be found right
there. is in the direct line of progression.
He is bound to climb the ladder, and if
not the ladder upon the first round Of
which he placed his young feet it will be
by another and better one.