Year: 1869

Holding VanderbiIt's Horse.


A young man from an adjoining State,
who has recently been rescued from a
l'seore of hungry creditors, and who still
has a credit at his bankers of about
enc hundred thousand dollars, but who
not long ago was in reduced circum4
stances and obliged to live in retirement
on Staten Island, makes the following
solution of his sudden acquisi-
ton of competency. The gentle
man-Holt by name-was residing in
one of the fashionable hotels on Staten
Island. He was extremely downheart-
ed. This was the reason of his low spir
its: About two years ago he had mari
ed very handsome woman, on whom he
fairly doated. At that time ne had TWEEN
ty-five thousand dollars in cash. Soon
after the nuptial ceremony, Holt removed
to this city, and became broker on Wall
street He was too honest to succeed
there. The bulls and bears gored and
tore fnancially-and in less than
twelve month he had not a dollar left.
Disguised, he retired with as good a
grace as possible, leaving his cash to full
fill its mission. With wife and child he
went to the country, and finally, as be-
s'se.i settla3 down In - hotel on
Staten Island. III u wife rs.s.a- sotrsv-.s.c1us,
and she gave it freely for the support OF
the family.


About two weeks ago, late in one hot
afternoon, a gentleman drove up to the
Ihotel where Holt was living, and grufiy
asked whether there was boy there who
would hold his horse. II will do it sir,
said Mr. Holt, and he did hold the ami
NAL during the time consumed by the ell
derby gentleman in obtaining his dinner.


A few days later the same gentleman,
driving the same horse, stopped at the
same hotel, and hunted for boy again
to hold his horse No boy being present,
Holt again volunteered. He held the
( horse until the hostler came 20 take the
animal to the stable, and then retired
within the hotel to dress for dinner Mrs.
Holt had a way Of making her husband
get himself up very respectfully at least
once each day, and that was for the din
ner hour Usually he had been rather
negligent of his costume, and since his
/ financial 6aSco had really become seedy-
/ When MIR. and Mrs. Holt entered the
hotel dining room that evening. Mrs.
/ Holt was resplendent Her husband was
at least dressed in gentlemanly style. At
/ an adjoining table sat the elderly man
whose horse Mr. Holt had on two differ
ent occasions had the pleasure of hold
ing The eyes of the elderly individual
were observed to dilate considerably In
fact, lie stared at Mr. and Mrs. Holt But
he said nothing at that time. After din
ner however, he sought out Mr.. Holt
and bluntly asked his name. "Holt, sirI
at your service. "And who do u
think 1 am p again asked the eld


parsonage. "Oh, you? You are
Vanderbilt I know you, and th


l have held is Mountain Boy


NAL any man might be proud


rein over"


Instead of taking offense


"old," Mr.. Vanderbilt


mmodOre-seemed e


made some inquiries abb


emptorily ordered the ~


make his appearance at his


fee on the ensuing forenoor
" IL o'clock Holt promis
did so, and had an interview
hours duration with the MY
What was done or said on that


no one has ever been able to learn.


a few days later Holt made his


pearance in Wall street and specuNs
strongly and successfully in "a certai5
line of stocks known to be mostly con'
trolled by Commodore Vanderbilt. SO
we'll did he work his card with the in
structions, undoubtedly obtained from
the Commodore, that in few weeks he
deposited with a prominent banking
house whose vaults are protected by bur
glar- proof locks, and who keep day and
night watchmen expressly paid TO see
that no unauthorized person tampers
with those safeguards. Two days ago
Vanderbilt sent for Holt again and said
to him:


young man, hear you have made
some money. l am glad to learn it. Now
Just take my advice a second time. New
/ er put foot in Wall street again. You arz
not suited for that atmosphere. Shun \
as you would the devil. You've got
enough Keep what you have and be
contented."


! Holt now shuns Wall street as he
would a pestilence.