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EUNICE BLOUNT AT SUNNYSIDE. [Pages 153, 154.

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by W. J. HOLLAND, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] FRANKLIN PRESS: STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY RAND, AVERY, & CO.

PREFACE.

THE introduction to this volume will be brief, inasmuch as those who may honor me by perusing the work will no doubt incline to get at the contents of this peculiar nut, at once; preferring the kernel to the shell.

I will therefore simply say, by way of preface, that the generous patronage bestowed by the reading public upon my previous work issued by the publisher of this book, prompted me to prepare the succeeding pages, now submitted in this narrative form.

The recommendations and advice herein contained result from a forty years' experience and acquaintance with the business world. I am aware that carpers may incline to criticise a literary production bearing such a title as that which I have chosen for this book; but it is original—to say the least of it. And I add that this volume is written for the public, not for the critics.

It is very true that "A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GOLD" is not considered a very large sum to be accumulated by a single person, within a decade or two of years steadily devoted to active prosperous trade, at the present time, in our enterprising, money-making country. Yet this is enough, for most of us, individually; and more than many of us acquire and save, in a life-time.

Within the writer's business experience, he has twice gained and earned—and nearly lost—just such a fortune! If the hints and suggestions contained in the rehearsal of the modes in which such a competency was acquired by veritable parties, and the indicated warnings page: vi-vii (Table of Contents) [View Page vi-vii (Table of Contents) ]Switch to Image ModeCLOSE Page vi-vii (Table of Contents) against the course through which it may be lost, are studied—as set down in these pages—a goodly measure of sterling benefit will inure to the reader; who, while he may be entertained with the narrative, may thus learn "how to make it" for himself, how to save it, how to use, and how enjoy it—when once it is secured.

The several examples we have cited are literal illustrations, and many more of a similarly interesting character, where prime success has attended honest and duteous effort in the right direction, might have been presented in confirmation of the theory we have aimed to elucidate.

It is believed, however, that the presentation of the numerous facts and suggestions embodied in this volume will offer real encouragement to the poor young man who may have the disposition to emulate these exemplars, and who resolves in earnest seasonably to win his way against "the odds that wait on fortune," however forbidding and unpromising may be the circumstances and surroundings of his early years; since every man, however humble, is in a great measure the carver of his own pecuniary destiny, and all history bears testimony to the fact that "men may second Fortune, but they cannot thwart her—they may weave her web, but they cannot break it."

CONTENTS.

• CHAPTER I. A FEW NOTABLE AMERICAN MILLIONNAIRES. DO-nothings and Do-somethings. Our men of wealth. A. T. Stewart, Stephen Girard, John Jacob Astor, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Wm. B. Dinsmore, Robert Bonner, Alvin Adams, P. T. Barnum, Chas. Knox, Elias Howe, Nicholas Longworth, James Gordon Bennett, Sen'r., the Lorillards, the Williams', the Schencks, the Jaynes, et als. How they made their fortunes. Typical cases, and representative workers. What man has done, man may do. The road to wealth is ever open. 17
• CHAPTER II. THE BEGINNING. TOUCHING HARD PAN. THE 'Great Fire' in New York. The panic of 1837. Broken Banks. No money, no work, no prospect. Poor artisans, clerks, and mechanics. What could they do? Adversity and distress. Our characters at the bottom of the ladder. The dry-goods salesman, the broker's clerk, the poor printer, the toiling inventor, the impoverished book-keeper, the up-country drover, the well-to-do farmer, the rustic beauty, and the faithful wife. A triple board-bill settled. The watch pawned. The young wife's jewelry sacrificed. The jew and the sufferers. Only "three per cent a month." 38
• CHAPTER III. WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH. ONE hundred dollars in hand. Two dollars left. A good action rewarded. What next? "We'll go to work." The young men hunt in couples. Nothing to do—and everybody to help do it. The muscular clergyman's advice. "Forward—march!" A hopeful attempt. No! "We don't want any clerks." Hard times, in earnest. A liberal offer. The young wife's encouraging words. Sanguine youths. We'll make a hundred thousand dollars, yet!—"I can't." Well—"I WILL TRY." Our lads are as good as their promise. 56
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• CHAPTER IV. HOW TO BEGIN TO MAKE MONEY. OUR heroes pass the crisis. How they began to "make it." The true and the false way. Diligence, earnestness, wit, and skill. The route to wealth a plain one. Spend less than you earn. The broker's clerk meets with a genial farmer. Old Blount offers the city lad employment. He goes from State Street Boston, to the Connecticut River. What the "nice young man" finds there—who he meets—what he is good for—and how he manages to get on, in his new vocation. "The difference between patent leather and cowhide boots, is mostly in the shine, lad!" 67
• CHAPTER V. MORRIS DEANS IMPROVES HIS PROSPECTS. THE State Street boy is introduced to the "Sunnyside" household. Miss Eunice Blount—the farmer's buxom daughter. Young Morris shows the old hands how to milk a fractious heifer. He doffs the broadcloth, and dons the homespun. "Owe no man a dollar. Pay as you go—or go without." Stick a pin there, lad! Morris takes charge of the fancy stock cattle on Blount's farm. "He's smart—this boy. I reck'n we'll make a man of him, after a spell." 85
• CHAPTER VI. HOW MORRIS DEANS MADE, AND SAVED IT. GOOD Farmer Blount, and the little ones. Haying-time and rare sport for the children. Aunt Chloé, the darkie attendant. Homeward bound. "Look out, Mass'r! Don't yer obertip us!" The new hand goes forward—every time. Blount values, and advises him. "It's easier to make, than to save it, lad." How much is enough? Who is contented? A trite illustration, in answer. Money in the Savings Bank, is a handy thing. An advance in pay. How "Sunnyside" farm was earned. A small fortune for the late city broker's clerk. Old Uncle Philip demonstrates the power of music. 95
• CHAPTER VII. A "BIG THING" FOR POOR ELY HAWES. OUR dry-goods salesman locates in New York. Frank Meyers could say 'Yes,' but never 'No.' He obtains a new position. The cotton-goods' buyer. New York is not Boston! Why Meyers made money—and lent it. How his gains increased. He finds his old chum, the machinist. Six thousand against six hundred a year. Ely Hawes shows his new invention. Frank Meyers is pleased, but puzzled. "It's a big thing, Ely!" His friend urges the inventor to try New York with it. What he concludes on. 113
• CHAPTER VIII. HOW FRANK MEYERS MADE, AND LENT IT. HOW much does it cost for a Patent? A pleasant letter for Ely Hawes. The machinist thinks he will visit Washington. Meyers lacks a 'balance-wheel.' He makes new loans. The Wall Street sharpers catch him. $6,000 out, in three days. Castles in the air. Who wins at the Stock Exchange? Query—who! A colossal fortune for a born fool. Seven millions made in eight months. Eight millions lost in four months afterwards! A veritable case. Our friend Frank Meyers 'sees the elephant'—and learns a useful lesson. "No more for me, gentlemen!" 127
• CHAPTER IX. FRANK LEARNS HOW NOT TO LOSE IT. A GOOD way not to lose your money, when you get it. The philosopher's stone. Buy a hundred, not a thousand shares, "for the rise." What "a corner" will do for the small fry. Brokers' commissions bigger than speculators' "margins." How not to do it. Frank Meyers visits the Wall Street menagerie, and gets acquainted with the 'bulls and bears,' at only three thousand dollars cost. Cheap enough! A luckier hit. A good investment. Now—keep cool. 137
• CHAPTER X. HOW BRAVE ELY HAWES FLOURISHED. ELY Hawes invents a curious Bank Safe Lock. He goes to Washington, to patent it. What he thought the capitol was. What he found it to be. A full purse, and a light heart. Getting into the wrong shop. A pot-bellied native. "I want to get a Patent." How Ely didn't "get" it. Too late! "God bless us, sir—it is past two, P.M." Hard-working government clerks. Poor fellows! "Is the building on fire?" Who are you? "I'se Mass'r Greene's boy, sah." The model lock. Prospects ahead. Slower than a turtle with a slow fever. 145
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• CHAPTER XI. MR. GREENE AND MR. POMPUS: EXAMINERS. "MR. Zintsing Pompus, Examiner, sir." How hard they toil—at reading the newspapers! "Mr. Greene, one word, if you please?" A polite man. Which Greene? There's six of 'em. Ely's "Impenetrable lock." The invention of "Mr. Orze" is duly filed, as a Safe. No hurrying in this Department, sir. A little technicality. What a man must do 'to begin right,' to obtain a patent. Is this all? "Call in four weeks, and we will tell you when to—call again, sir." Mr. Zintsing Pompus enlightens Mr. Hawes—not much! 164
• CHAPTER XII. OUR YOUNG MECHANIC MAKES A POINT. LAWYER Shrood helps the anxious inventor out. A moderate charge! He 'knows the ropes'—he does. Ely gives his work into Shrood's hands. The turtle and his burthen. A precious 'slow coach.' Patent Agent Shrood gets on. An unfortunate accident. Ely goes under. The runaway team. "He is dead, sir!" Not quite. A long season in doors for Ely. Convalescence. Recovery. A triumph, at last. Hawes secures his Letters Patent, and bids adieu to Washington, its shams, and its miseries. "Say, Frank! I've got the documents!" 180
• CHAPTER XIII. HOW REUBEN DOWNER MADE, AND SAVED IT. THE mode adopted by the poor printer to 'make it.' A tight fit to get on, and pay his way. "I will one day be rich." His duty at the case, as foreman, as editor, as proprietor. What one man can do. The N.Y. weekly Leader. A sharp dodge. Something new. "Buy the N.Y. Leader!" What for? "Fannie Firm writes for the N.Y. Leader." Who is she? A right smart paper. A live editor. A grand project. A big circulation. Brains, pluck, and perseverance did it. A decided success. Who is Reuben Downer? 194
• CHAPTER XIV. HOW DAVID, THE DROVER, MADE HIS PILE. DAVID Morehead, the New Hampshire Drover, strikes out for himself. Deacon Rounds does not aid him, over much. He takes to horse-flesh, nat'rally. Old Rounds flourishes, and David tries it on. "You know how it is, yourself, deacon." Grimes' played-out New Hampshire farm. David buys it, stocks it, and progresses on it. Polly White, and how she married. The Morgan colts. What David did with them. A lively trade. Old Winkham's trotter. What became of him. "He's a good 'un, sure's you're alive!" A winner. 204
• CHAPTER XV. THE STORY OF "SPOT," FARMER BLOUNT'S FAMOUS DOG. THE Newfoundland at Sunnyside. He makes himself friendly. Where he came from. Miss Eunice tells his romantic story. The visit of Blount to Cape Ann Lighthouse. He falls in love with "Spot" there. The poor Lightkeeper, and the generous offer. The sale and delivery. What "Spot" was good for. The wreck—the prowess of the big dog. The rescued child. The grateful Captain. A noble beast. His value on the farm. Spot's portrait, from life. 216
• CHAPTER XVI. MORRIS AND DAVID MAKE A MUTUAL GOOD TRADE. MORRIS Deans sees the trotting gelding. David makes another good trade. Morris is pleased! He goes to New York with his fancy colt. Reuben Downer examines this fast 'un. A ride with the wind. The old friends meet in a sit-down at Delmonico's. The Morgan horse, again. "What is his time?" Away down in the twenties. "Good enough!" Ely Hawes getting ready for the Institute Fair. The trial of speed. "Let him wait, Morris. Three months hence, we'll see." The promised turn around the mile-course. 228
• CHAPTER XVII. HOW MR. TWEEDLE MADE, AND LOST IT. A CONTRAST in the modes of making money. The fate of a man who began wrong. Mr. Tweedle a natural living mistake. What true genius is, and what is false. Tweedle's choice. The Tammany ring. Tweedle a Sachem. He asks no questions. "Worth a million?" "Yes—and five times more." How he made it. How he didn't keep it. The community good critics. Where did he get it? Out of the public till! The arrest—the defiance—the trial—the sentence. Mr. Tweedle drops. The Penitentiary receives him. He is indignant—but beaten—and his Tammany friends are astounded. 245
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• CHAPTER XVIII. "TWO-TWENTY-TWO" FOR THE MORRIS DEANS COLT! "A NICE 'un to look at," and "a good 'un to go!" Reuben Downer shows what he knows about a horse-shoe. A drive over the Bloomingdale Road, behind Downer's flyer. Morris Deans puts his new pony around the track in 2.31. "He's a good colt." He is placed in training. Morris returns to Sunnyside. A later trial with the new trotter. A big price for an imported bull. "2.22, marked time," for the Morris Deans colt. "He is yours, sir, at your offer—$25,000!" Morris begins to 'make his hundred thousand,' sure. 262
• CHAPTER XIX. HOW A SECRET "INFORMER" MADE IT. MOSE Topley, the informer. His early history. A 'mysterious man.' He travels on his cheek, carries no luggage, and pays no bills of his contracting! The Expressman's account of Moses. He gets a fat office, in the secret service. What he does about it. The Congressman's opinion of Moses. Who knows him? Nobody! He bags his pile. A Committee sit upon Mose. He is called as a first class witness. "He can tell us all about it." Only $200,000 for Moses! The Committee learn a heap from him.—Exit Moses, with his plunder. 274
• CHAPTER XX. TWO CLEAR HEADS SOMETIMES BETTER THAN ONE. FRED. Fordham, the bookkeeper, improves his chances. His wife Fannie looks after the savings. A genuine 'helpmeet.' Fred. is surprised. What a true woman can do. How Fannie did it. "Two heads better than one." Frank Meyers' salary increased. Downer's weekly "Leader" proves a "big bonanza." Morris Deans on the high road to fortune. Old Blount better off than ever. David Morehead and Polly, his wife. Ely Hawes finds competitors. The telling advertisement. Ely's new lock—and what he did with it. 296
• CHAPTER XXI. EVERY MAN THE ARCHITECT OF HIS OWN FORTUNE. WHAT "invention" is. A description of Ely Hawes' new Patent. What he thought of it, and what others found it. "The children cry for 'em!" How do you open it? That is the question. The approaching Institute Exhibition. Ely is around, with his Safes. Who will win the Society's Grand Gold Medal? $5,000 deposited in the closed rival Safes. The proposition, and the contest. Twelve hours allowed. Ely's new Lock to be first picked, or burst. All right, so far. 308
• CHAPTER XXII. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE GREAT INSTITUTE FAIR. THE rivals in earnest. A laudable ambition. Ely Hawes thinks he has conceived a good thing. What the public thought. A manly challenge. The contestants draw lots for the first trial. Ely loses. Morris Deans and Eunice come down to the Fair. The old inventor is puzzled. Another advertisement. Ely shows the toiler how to do it. But he doesn't learn! The secret of the lock. Eight hours—ten—twelve—and "time!" is called. But Ely Hawes' new lock stands the test. "It is a good one, sir. I say so—and I know." 318
• CHAPTER XXIII. FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND THE GOLD MEDAL. ANOTHER day's work upon the rivals' locks. Ely Hawes tries his hand at it, in turn. A big crowd witness the experiment. Where is the key? A curious conception. Ely toils nine hours, but does not succeed. Three hours' time, yet. Once more, $5,000 in gold inside the safe, the reward. An hour before eight, P.M., he wins! The triumph. The Society's Gold Medal. Ely is happy. His Safe lock pronounced the best in the world. 328
• CHAPTER XXIV. FRANK MEYERS GETS STRANGELY BEFOGGED. MORRIS Deans and Eunice Blount at the Fair. Morris puts his lady friend in charge of Frank Meyers. They go through the Exhibition. Frank is smitten. He asks questions. "Is Eunice engaged to Morris?" Of course she is—only it proves otherwise! Frank is inquisitive. Eunice explains. Meyers is astonished, but gratified. Here is his opportunity. Eunice invites him up to Sunnyside. He accepts the invitation, and will win her—if he can. 337
• CHAPTER XXV. THE TRAMP'S STORY, AND BLOUNT'S OPINIONS. A USELESS class. How the tramps live. A story by the leader. Eunice Blount's early history. The "orflin." How she came into Blount's hands. Her prospects. The new-comer from Boston. The lovers. Will they wed? "That's what's the matter, up at Sunnyside farm, lads." Old Blount's opinions. Raising mushrooms. "A cure for the potato-bug." The farmer makes his points, and the Brandville postmaster notes them down. Simon Slow gathers a new wrinkle, while Morris is pleased with his employer's triumph. 348
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• CHAPTER XXVI. THE FRIENDS TOGETHER AT SUNNYSIDE. A JOLLY meeting at Sunnyside Farm. Frank Meyers, Reuben Downer, Ely Hawes, Fred. Fordham, Fannie, and David Morehead visit Morris Deans, at old Blount's estate. What they see, and what they do there. "Old times—when we were poor!" The prospects of our heroes. All on the right road, at last. How they made it—how they saved it—how they kept it—and what they did with their fortunes. Frank Meyers proposes to Eunice. How she replies. The departure, and a "coming event." 362
• CHAPTER XXVII. WHY SHOULD WE NOT HAVE "PANICS"? ANOTHER side of the picture. The panics of '57 and '73. What caused them, mainly. A painful record. Facts for considerate men. Corruption and defalcation. The crimes of peculators, speculators, and public robbers. A huge "black list"! Why we experience 'hard times' in 1875. Millions stolen, squandered, and filched from the poor and middling classes. Counterfeiters, treasury robbers, bank defaulters, money thieves, and their victims. Why not look for chaos, amidst such recklessness? 376
• CHAPTER XXVIII. A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GOLD. MORE than a hundred thousand dollars, each, for our heroes. How it was earned—and how it was saved. The true principle, and the right method. Who are these men? "Go, thou—and do likewise."—The wedding at the farm. Who wins the rustic beauty, at last? A happy time at Sunnyside. All hands present. The beautiful bride and her gallant husband. The fate of Morris, Eunice, Frank, Ely, Reuben, David, Fannie, Fred., Farmer Blount, and Deacon Rounds. The bridal tour, Niagara and the White Mountains. Little "Daisie Deans." Four years afterwards. "Spot," and the boy baby.—Finale. 393