A SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume 2, Issue 3, 17 June 1892, Page 6

A SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION .

The advice of a shrewd business man is sometimes of more value, even in a financial sense, than direct aid.}

It proved so in the casß of a drayman who was employed by Stephen Girard, the Philadelphia merchant. One day, the drayman, who was an industrious bright fellow, with a good many mouths to fill at home, was heard to remark that he wished he was rioh.

“ What’s that?” sharply asked Mr. Girard, who heard the grumble.

“ Oh,” said the man. “ I was only wishing 1 was rich.”

“ Well, why don’t you get rich?" asked the millionaire, harshly.

“ I don’t know how without money,” returned the drayman. “You don’t need money,” said Girard.

“ Well, if you will tell me how to get rich without money, I won’t let the grass grow before trying it, returned the other.

“ There is going to be a shipload of confiscated tea sold by auction to-morrow at the wharf. Go down there and buy it in, and

then come to mp. ”

The man laughed. “ I have no money to buy a whole shipload of teaijwitb,” he said.

“ You don’t need any money, I tell you,” snapped the old man. “Go down and bid on the whole oargo, and then come to me.” The next day the drayman went down to the sale. A large crowd of retailers were present, and the auctioneer said that thos6 bidding would have the privilege of taking one case or the whole ship-load, and that the bidding would be on the pound. He then began the .sale. A retail grocer started the biddiog, and the drayman raised him.

On seeing this, the crowd gazed with no small amount of turprise. When the case was knocked down to the drayman, the auctioneer si i i he supposed the buyer desired onlv one ease.

“I’ll take the whole ship-load,” coolly returned the successful bidder.

The auctioneer was astonished ; hut on some one whispeiiog to him that it was Girard’s man who was the speaker, his mannsr changed, and he said he supposed it was all right.

The news soon spread that Girard was buying tea in large quantities, and the next day the price rose several cents.

'* Do and s'll your tea,” said Girard to the drayman the next day. The drayman was shrewd, and he went out and made contracts with several bn leers to take the stock at a shade below the marketprice, thereby making a quick sale. In a few hours he was worth fifty thousand dollars.