Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-07-22
his sleeves, So TO speak, and went TO

his sleeves, SO TO speak, ana "enL 10
work.
People always said that Ralph was a
worker and industrious. But, abr
exclaimed the old heads, ''he can earn
money but he cannot keep it!''
These same people were soon sur
PIised, however, to see little, unpre-
tentious corner grocery started, with
Ralph as sole proprietor.
st wasn't much,' some said, but
it was beginning, a beginning"
Curious people came in. Men with
''inquiring eyes" Men with their
arms thrust in cadaverous pockets.
Some sat on the cracker barrels and
looked on. They hadn't ever tried to
succeed, and dropped in to see how
such an attempt was supposed to work
A lad came in.
"a penny's worth O. figs"
The article was handled as if it had
been twenty pounds of sugar for one
dollar.
Five cents worth of peanuts"
These were neatly done up in a little
saw-edgcd paper bag. Ralph was a
model of neatness and politeness, and
his white apron and square paper hat
gave him sort of dashy appearance.
"a half dozen eggs"
The orders were slight
1.-TWO pounds of butter"
Ralph was encouraged.
lone barrel of Haxall four!'
This was quite leap.
Twill deliver it after dinner"
Yet his visitors were still far in ex-
cess of his sales But one thing had
been demonstrated. He had got the
people to coming that wayl Could he
hold them.
"a new broom sweeps Clean" he re-
iected. but time will tell"
"Well, Ralph's hasn't much in his
store. to be sure" said the skeptical,
''yit he's er risin', er risin', an that's
somethin'."
Ralph's horse and wagon consisted of
himself and a wheelbarrow! He de-
livered his few goods in this unpreten-
tious manner. The boys called it
Ralph's lone boss express"
The new grocer" said little, thereby
showing tact, but kept his sleeves
rolled up and attended strictly to bust
ness. He had no capital, but earning
few dollars, he secured little merchan-
disc on thirty days credit. He had one
| thing, he had manners, he had socia-
| bility, he had accommodation. He was
just as sociable with the man that
bought jackknife as the one that
bought shovel With these as lead
ing elements of success, he met his first
| bills, paid cash for his second order of
| goods.
Two months had gone Six. Now
he had clerk. But no horse. Six
months more. He had second clerk.
Ralph began to receive congratula-
| tions from all sides. The friend who
would not lend him red cent, and
who was to give him one Thousand dol
| lars, came sauntering in.
You don't seem to need borrowed
money now, Ralph"
mo, thank you. have a thousand
to lend" he laughed.
| ''Ralph, you have won the first thou
sand dollars. The rest will come easy
enough. 1t is the first thousand that
decides the fate of millions"
Ralph was very happy. His business
increased. His friends multiplied, and
young men came to him to borrow
their first thousand dollars. Time wore
on. The little corner grocery store be-
came too small In more commodious
quarters they were soon established.
For it was 'R. Gordon & Co., Grocers''
| now. Ana the young man who had no
capital was the leading grocery firm
of the city.
80 you could succeed without CAPT
tai, Ralph said his practical friend.
Eyes; and it has been good lesson
to me-"
(which you couldn't have learned if I
had loaned you thousand dollars" in
terrupted the other.
mo, sir. And to-day l am saying to
the young men of my community:
You can succeed without capital
Try"
And Ralph's face glowed. He had
been an assured success. And he still
superintendent his own business.-Hor-
ace Walker, in Yankee Blade.