The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-02-19
A LEGACY.


Oh &b4sE 4H4A1M 1Aeue &guilaeMEE ~ 1Ar
basis Of ala that leads on 10 fortune,
and IL you follow my advice explicitly
Won viii be prosperous and perhaps
prominent, The advice is this;
aDon't expose your ignorance Oh stu
pidity Never give ali opinion Look
wise and say nothing
Irving shadrac. the legatee to this
meager fortune, was impressed. In
deed, lie began To act 0n the advice ait
once. His father had but one intimate
friend, man doing large business
He called upon Irving and asked him
| to express bis wishes concerning the
funeral Irving looked at him Az
though be had been asked the question
| 0f his life. He made no reply. He
seemed To be considering
.'If you ike. !" said his questioner, III
will attend To everything for you"
Irving pressed his hand without
I speaking
The funeral arrangements were well
attended to. and John Andrews OF the
/ firm Of Andrews & CO. was proud Of
his success tn having arranged very
impressive ceremony. When be met
/ the son after ii was NIL over and asked
\ how be was pleased with hits manage
ment, Irving looked unutterable graft
tude III occurred 10 him To tell Mr.
Andrews why he sd approved of the
arrangements: TINT. lest he should not
/ lift Oh what MIR. Andrews considered
| the principal feature, he held hits peace.
There's good stun Id that boy" said
1 the maFehant II must get him intu
/ my counting room. He'll never 40 Oh
| half cooked. He'll never slop ever"
Irving became one of tsae lowest orr
der of clerks IN the house Of Andrews
! Il 90 Whenever ii was necessary FOR
1 him TO 10 Into the private office Of the
/ head of the firm be did what was
necessary, but did not speak He look.
4 ca ar ii he were carrying iu his head
solution of all the various problems
that beset the welfare Of the business.
Noticing this, Mr.. Andrews on one 81
i two occasions. iii order to- test him,
submitted 10 him some business ques-
ton and asked him what he would do
in the matter Irving at once put on
his visible thinking cap Mr. Andrews
asked him a leading question. which
gave away bis own opinion Then
Irving told him the way the thing
should be doae-Mr Andrews own
way.
shadrac was made chief clerk and
then became partner Meanwhile be
was following his fathers beqnest Id
every department Of life. II a gath.
ering Of citizens met 10 discuss the
water supply, he appeared to be doing
the thinking Tor the meeting. but nev.
er opened his mouth. III the vegtry-
men Of his church discussed ques-
tioa Of finances. he. member. looked
at the ceiling thoughtfully and II ask
ed for his opinion said, "i'ni thinking.
BEFORE the meeting broke up he had
learned what the majority wished and
advocated It with every appearance Of
having reached the conclusion by pro
found elaboration.
When Il was proposed to send Try
ing Shatirac to congress he really
thought for the first time in bis life
the subject Of his deilbeFation being
/ whether he could best serve his own
purposes by remaining In business 81
going into politics. He decided for the
latter and went to congress. There hs
never opened mis- mouth But be was
true American, going always with
the majority. Other congressman had
views which they fought for. Shad
rae bad no views except such as wert
indicated by his dignifed and thought
FIJI appearance Fortunately for bin
he was getting bald and looked oldei
than lie was A man who never made
mistakes, who was always on the righi
side Of every question be could nevel
be on the wrong side except In vote
aud then he had the majority with
him-cOuld not but grow 10 impor
lance. and Congressman shadrac step
ped In time from the honse of repre-
sentatives into the senate chamber.
one day the president sent for him
Shadrae responded and sat down witt
the nations chief, an expression OF
his face indicating that lie was ready
to solve even the question of the pm
anna canal
Senator" said the president, Il
portfolio I'm my cabinet Is about to be
come vacant"
shadrac was sitting with his rEght
leg over his left He imnediatel,
changed, putting his left over hi
right He appeared to be ready I,
consider the various names concerning
which the president would ask BIZ
preference.
II find that your state II behind Ii
, the list Of important government post
. and that there is such confidence ii
the soundness of your views Oh al
tissues Of plth and moment that hay,
determined to offer you the portfolio
, VIII you accept it3"
shadrac knit his hrows. drew dowr
j the corners OF his mouth, changed legs
! put bis hand up to bis forehead, bu
! made no reply,
+ silence gives consent said thu
Z president II shall send your appoint
| ment to the senate At once
j Thus II was that Irving shadrac b
netting upon the legacy bequeathed /,
him BY hts father became a membc
Of the presidents cabinet. And. nov
tllat they arc hunting for a mansto pu
n the presidents place political man
-