The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-02-23
IlClidtn[S Of History.
- y >
The Boy that Plowsd and Planted
( for a Boat.

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+ o. Atkinson i'll Christian Sun.
3. People who are now rich were not
always Sc, at least their ancestors were
lot. erich as Vanderbilt" has
ubme to be an axiom. But all the
Eanderbilts have not been rich. Cor
Helius the elder, Commodore" started
A.poor boy, with little schooling and
Reager opportunities. He was rtared
On a farm ON Staten Island and when
yet youth of twelve boat stranded
near his home. His father took the
contract of transferring the cargo to
New York, but was too busy with his
patches to do the hauling, SO this work
was turned over to Cornelius. When
his teams arrived at the ferry ho had
no money with which to pay ferriage,,
his father having neglected. By acct
dent, giving him any. The twelve
year old boy, already learning t2 .> sAlft
for himself, left horse with the ferry
man as security Tor his teams ferrlage,
which animal stood sponsor Tor the
boys word about As hours.
Soon the notion struck young VAR
derbiIt that he wanted and could man.
age small boat. He. like any other
boy, laid his wants before BIS mother,
WHO though not sharing his desire, did
not wish to discourage the boy, and SO
tod him if he would pillow, drag and
plant a certain field in corn within
seventeen days Ito her seemingly an
impossible task she would get him a
boat. Young Vanderbilt did not reck-
on with impossibles when they stood
between him ana his wants. and by the
time named the corn was planted, the
task approved and soon after small
boat purchased. He at once began
carrying produce for the farmers from
Staten Island to New York And
when the wind was against him, as rot
infrequently it was, he poled his boat
so as to be In On time. But all the
proceeds had to go to his father.
Whereupon the astute son drove
bargain with his father to give him
half be made after the days work was
done. It was agreed and so the boy
worked hard all day and then deep in
the night and SO when he was nine
teen had saved for himself about 49,
600. Then he got married. The
young woman of his choice being a
favorlte with his father, no objection
Was raised ard the young man hence
forth had exclusive benefit of his labor.
At the age OF twenty three, by dnt OF
hard labor and close economy he bad
saved IS 800. He then became CAP
tain of the first steamboat running
from New York to New Brunswick, n.
j., at $1,000 per year. His wife set up
boarding house at New Brunswick and
made 70 small gain. After seven
years, Vanderbilt was made superln-
tendent OF the company OF which he
had been employee He soon had the
line paying the company $4,000 per
year. His next move was to lease for
a term of fourteen years the ferry
privileges between New York and
New Jersey. 1t was paying venture.
He soon owned a small fleet of ships,
also'a line or more of ocean steamers.
Seeing that the Civil War was coming
and believing that 1t would jeopardize
shipping by water be sold all his in
terest in BOATS for 50, 100000 and turned
his capital and energy to railroadlng.
He was In a: few years master OF the
railroad situation, president of a large
system from which he made millions
and died in 1877 at the age OF eighty
three, being worth over eighty million
dollars. This was the beginning of
the Vanderbilt: millions. Among his
charities was gift of million dollars
to Vanderbilt University, Nashville,
Tenn, which institution has received
many gifts since from the Vanderbilt
frmlly and is one of the wealthiest and
best equipped Universities in the
country, having property now of over
$4,000, 900 and an income of over 1926
OeO per year.
Moral: Behind every honest dol
lar earned or useful thing done was
somewhere aman or woman who
worked hard, practiced economy, made
Sacrifices and looked to the future With
hope and with faith.