Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-05-07
By HORaTIO aLGER, JR.

| to earning your living That you may
also be successful in building up a good
character. and taking an honorable posi-
ton among your fellow-men. / earnestly
| hope.
Il now come to the business upon which
| wish to speak to you.
You will remember that a man named
James Wall was prominently identified
with the Great Metropolitan Mining Com
| pany, By which your poor father lost his
| fortune. Indeed, this Wall. who is
| plausible sort of fellow, was the one who
| induced him to embark in this disastrous
| speculation. | suspect he has feathered
| his own nest pretty well already, and
| that he intends to do so still more. l
was surprised to hear from him some
! ten days since. | will not copy the let
| ter, but send you the substance OF 1t. lie
| reports that in winding up the affairs OF
/ the company there IS a prospect or real
| izing two per cent for the stockholders,
which, as your father owned thousand
shares. would yield two thousand dollars.
| 1t may be some time, he adds, before the
dividend will be declared and paid. he
processes willingness, however to pay
| two thousand dollars cash for a transfer
of your fathers claims upon the COM
pany.
Now. two thousand dollars are not
to be despised but my impression is that
such man as James Wall would never
have made such an offer if he had not
expected the assets would amount to
considerably more than two per cent. L
am unwilling to close with the offer until
know more about the affairs OF the
company. Here it has struck me that
you can be of assistance. This Wall lives
in a town named Portville, in Wiscon-
sin, on the shore of Lake Superior. l
would suggest that you change your name,
20 at once to Portville, and find out
what you can. | can give you no IN
structions, but must trust to your own
native shrewdness, in which | feel sure
! you are not deficient. If it should be
necessary to give up your present bust
ness. do so without hesitation, since the
other business is of more Importance. |
will write Mr.. Wall that | have his offer
under consideration. If you need money,
draw upon me.
Il hear that Joshua Drummond has
run away from home, carrying away con-
siderable money belonging to his father.
The latter appears to lament the loss of
his money more than of his son.
Il remain your sincere friend,
CLEMENT SHAW"
This letter gave Walter much food for
reflection He determined to give up his
| book agency. and leave as soon as pos
sible for Portville. 1t was encouraging
to think that, in any event, he was likely
to realize two thousand dollars from the
mining shares, which he had looked upon
as valueless. Besides, he felt there was
every reason to hope they would prove
even more valuable.
Three days later having closed his &C
counts as agent, he started for Portville
He had made a new start in life, and
this unexpected money would prove
stepping stone to new ambitions. His
future proved his courage and integrity,
with his motto always, Strong and
Steady"
| Walter found a cheap boarding house
and gave his name as Carl Walters. He
| at once made inquiries about James Wall
| He found out that Wall was regarded as
| shr ewd Spectator and was associated
with several men of dubious business rep
utation in various copper and iron min
| ing enterprises.
The man had an Office employing sew
eral clerks who sent out considerable
advertising matter offering shares of stock
to investors at distance. Walter man
aged to get employment in the office.
Within FIVE days he had learned all the
ms and outs of the business; In ten he
was realty to make move in his own in.
| tereSts.
The stock for which Shaw had been
offered two thousand dollars he discov-
cred was really worth ten thousand dol
| lars.
| Walter hired a lawyer. When he left
| Portville he carried with him a check for
a small fortune
Stapleton was his destination. Walter
decided to invest some of his money in
a general store there. Joshua Drummond
was surprised and indignant when he
learned of this new business rival, but
Walter went steadily on his way. He
made complete success of the enterprise.
New ambitions arose as time went on,
| and his future proved his courage and
| integrity with his motto always Strong
and Steady"