Читать книгу The Horse's Friend - O. S. Pratt - Страница 4

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION—EARLY LIFE—THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE—FIRST ATTEMPTS IN BUSINESS—SUCCESS—MARRIAGE.

In the social interchanges of life it is always pleasant to possess some knowledge of the antecedent history of the ones we meet; to know who and what they are; while to one who feels that there is something in his own career not unworthy of notice, there is a satisfaction in recounting the steps by which his success has been attained; especially, if in gaining it he has been called to contend with difficulties and vanquish obstacles which opposed his progress. Such narratives may prove helps and encouragements, as they show what energy and perseverance have achieved, and thus stimulate others to stronger and more successful endeavors. This was taught by the greatest of our American poets in his well-known lines:

“Lives of great men all remind us

We may make our lives sublime;

And, departing, leave behind us

Foot-prints on the sands of time.”

Although few men may lay claim to greatness in its military, political or literary sense, there is something in every earnest life which will interest and instruct other men, and which may prove an assistance to some, who, with failing hearts are engaged in life’s stern battle. With this brief explanation of his design, the author of the following pages trusts to receive the favorable attention of his readers as he proceeds to recount the leading incidents of a somewhat eventful career.

I was born in the town of Darien, Genesee County, in the State of New York, on the seventh day of December, A. D. 1835. There, amidst the quiet and elevating influences of nature, the bright days of my infancy and childhood were passed, until my boyhood’s days were over, and my fifteenth year of life was reached.

My father owned the farm on which we lived, besides being the proprietor of several mills, and, like many other purely practical men, he had a higher appreciation of material than of intellectual advantages. As a consequence, he was more desirous that I should early engage in the active business of the farm, than that I should employ hours, which might be made profitable in work, in studies which paid no immediate profit.

At the age of eight years I was often sent after the cows, barefooted, and a distance of nearly a mile through the woods, coming home after the shades of night had fallen, and being obliged to trace my way by following the cows in the narrow path made by them. Day after day, in my great desire to secure an education, I would beg my father to send me to school, but always he had work for me to do, and thus my endeavors were foiled. But such was my determination to secure an education, that I resolved, at all hazards, to go to school, and often did I jump from my bed-room window and run a distance of half a mile to the school-house. My greatest ambition was to be a merchant, and I knew that I must procure at least a limited scholastic education to enable me to succeed in my anticipated calling. But, while I was laying my youthful plans for the future, my father would lay plans for work, and often, on returning at night from school, I would hide in the barn till after dark, dreading the punishment which awaited me for having gone to school in place of working.

THE OLD HOMESTEAD, DARIEN, GENESEE CO., N. Y.

At the age of ten years I have taken a team, gone alone into the woods and loaded saw-logs on a sleigh, using the horses to draw up the logs. As my father owned a saw-mill as well as a farm, it seemed to him necessary that every effort should be put forth to keep both branches of business going; therefore, no time was allotted to his children for securing an education. Many times have I approached him, timidly and with tears, humbly requesting to be allowed to go to school, when, instead of responding to my desire, he would send me to the saw-mill to work; and at the age of twelve or thirteen I ran the mill alone, though, while doing so, I have had to mount on the lever and load it with extra weight, as I was not heavy enough to raise the water-gate. Thus I labored on from month to month, until I was fourteen, in the meantime going but little to school. Many times I would lay plans to run away, believing that I could do for myself, and make my own mark in the world.

Money, in those times and in that region, was not plentiful, and I was early taught its value, a lesson of great practical value to a youth who has to hew his own path through life. Many times I have traveled miles on a special errand for a neighbor, or for some traveler, and received as compensation a single penny. Money, so hardly acquired, was not to be expended lightly, and I saved my little earnings till the accumulated sum amounted to four dollars. This seemed to me like quite a fortune. I now felt myself to be a capitalist, and, naturally, the desire to use my riches to advantage led me to seek some profitable investment which would increase my wealth. My earliest speculation was the purchase of a gun; but after the first pleasure of its possession had passed, I saw my mistake in having expended money for something that would yield me no increase, and began to look around for an opportunity to retrieve my error. Soon a chance occurred for me to trade the gun off for a cow. I saw there was “money in it,” and closed the bargain, thus turning my first mistake into a profitable investment. Having become the owner of a cow, my ambition was awakened to increase my stock, and I kept my attention fixed in that direction until I was the sole proprietor of three cows. I had now entered on my fifteenth year, and having learned one day, in conversing with my father, that his intention was soon to sell his farm and stock, and remove to the Far West, I proposed to him to allow me to carve my own way in the world. I felt ambitious to strike out for myself, and “paddle my own canoe.” To this my father consented, when, after selling my cows and receiving the money, with all my fortune in my pockets, I bade farewell to the parental roof and its many pleasant associations, looking for the last time upon the

“Old family Bible that lay on the stand,”

and taking that decisive step by which I was to become the architect of my own fortune.

Having an uncle who resided in the town of Byron, I turned my steps in that direction, and for the ensuing winter found a home beneath his roof. During that season I devoted myself to study, attending the village school under the superintendence of Mr. Bennum, whom I greatly esteemed, and whose many acts of kindness linger in my memory to the present hour.

On the opening of spring my thoughts turned towards commercial life, and I devoted my time to becoming better acquainted with various business avocations, intending to adopt some profitable employment. After reflecting well, I took the money I had accumulated and with it purchased a horse, wagon, and harness. Then, through the kindness of a dear friend, who became responsible for me, I was loaned one hundred dollars, and with this as my working capital I commenced traveling over the country, buying produce and shipping it to Buffalo and New York.

I continued in this business until the year 1855, when, having arrived at the age of twenty, I began to think of enlarging my operations. Influenced by this desire, I directed my course to the beautiful and flourishing town of Batavia, where I secured a store and became a dealer in all kinds of produce, shipping it, as before, to Buffalo and New York.

FIRST STORE IN BATAVIA, N. Y.

The cut here given is an accurate representation of my first place of business, and speaks for itself in regard to the size and general appearance of the place. It was, however, as it proved, insufficient for the business which flowed in upon me and increased so greatly that soon I found it necessary to secure larger and more commodious premises. At the time of doing this I determined to still further extend my business by opening a wholesale and retail grocery and provision store. Fortune smiled on my endeavors, and all evidences encouraged the belief that I was on the direct road to wealth.

Having thus attained a good position in business, my mind began to make excursions in another direction. The wisest of men has said that “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,” and, having a natural liking for “a good thing,” I found my thoughts led to the important subject of marriage, until I finally determined to try the experiment of trading in the matrimonial market. After thus deciding, it took me but a short time to reach the important object contemplated, for, it would seem, I was specially directed in my course. I formed the acquaintance of Miss Northrop, an estimable and accomplished young lady, the only daughter of the late Dr. Northrop, and soon the fair one was led to the hymeneal altar and became the wife and partner of O. S. Pratt.