Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1874 — The First Adventure. [ARTICLE]

The First Adventure.

The following stories are told of two Nantucket boys, who altorward became famous in their several walks of life. Both died within a few years, upward of eighty years of age—the one, Capt. Stephen West, sailing as a whaling captain most of the time, and always, except on his last voyage, in the employ of Seth Russell Sons, of New Bedford; other, Hon. Jacob Barker, as merchant and bankeT in New’ York and New Orleans, achieving and losing a colossal fortune, and swell known in this country and Europe for his shrewdness, energy and capacity. Capt. West commenced llis career as a boy on board the sloop Speedwell, of New Bedford, and it was while in the Speedwell that Jacob Barker, then eight years old, came to, him witii a ninepence (twelve and a half cents) which he had had presented to him, and said; “ Stephen, I wish tliee would invest this money, on thy arrival in Boston, in something. that will pay.” Stephen accepted the business, promising to give it his best attention. On the arrival of the vessel in Boston he looked about for a profitable investment. Going up Long Wharf he passed a table where an old woman had exposed for sale in tempting order her stock of apples, nuts and candies. Amongst this assortment Stephen’s attention was attracted by the sight of some beautiful sticks of sugar candy white in the center and entwined with stripes of red in the most attractive form. It was the first of the kind he had seen, and he immediately decided on a purchase and procured twelve sticks. On the arrival ot the Speedwell at Nantucket, Jacob was already ou the wharf, more anxious for the result of this first adventure. than afterward of the argosies of wealth that bore their burdens to his stores. The first salutation was “ Stephen, has thee purchased anything for me?” The reply w r as that he had, but the vessel must first be secured, the sails handed and the decks cleared before the cargo could be discharged. Jacob’s anxious hands soon aided in furling the jib and putting everything in when they “ went below” arid Stephen spread before his delighted eves the first mercantile investment. Highly delighted, he stepped on the wharf and was soon surrounded by a dozen boys, with whom he commenced his trade, and with such success that before he hadreached the'store at the head of the wharf hg had sold the whole adventure for thirty-seven and a half cents, realizing a profit of 200 per cent., making what he termed “ a very good turn of it.” This was the first act, or turn of business, that this great merchant and financier accomplished, and not even those very heavy loans to which our Government in the day of her financial difficulty was obliged to resort to him for aid gave him so much pleasure as this first adventure of his boyhood. But this adventure would be of slight interest had it not a sequel in the lapse of time. Several years afterward Mr, Barker had become confidential clerk to the substantial mercantile house of Isaac Hicks & Sons, New York. Mr. West arrived in New York an officer in the ship Brothers, Capt. Thaddeus Waterman, from Liverpool. While in Liverpool Mr. West had laid in an adventure in a lot of beer. On his arrival in New York he was much troubled and perplexed for money to pay the duties, then high, and the other matters relating to it. The adventure was in danger of being lost, when he recollected that his old friend and schoolmate, Jaeob Barker, was in New York. Jacob had already some fame as a clever man for business and shrewdness. As soon as West could leave the ship he sought out Barker at the counting-room of Messrs. Hicks, and stated his perplexities regarding his Liverpool adventure. “ Give thyself no uneasiness,” replied Jacob, “on that business, Stephen. I will attend to it for thee. Enter the beer at the CustomHouse ; I have plenty: of money by me to pay the duties. I will not only pay the duties, but attend to the selling of it for thee. Thee only deliver it to my order when I send one# The next day the order came and the beer was delivered. In the evening, while Mr. West was writing in the cabin, Jacob came on board and informed him that he had sold the beer excellently well, and in proof opened his handkerchief and turned out J>n the cabin table a largo sum of solid coin. The sale was indeed well done, and much beyond West’s expectations; but, sailor like, he shoved back the money, saying, “ Take your pay, Jacob, as much as you want.” “Not a cent. Stephen,”- was the response; “ not a cent. Does thee remember the sugar candy?” and with a hearty good shake of the hand they parted.— Boston Advertiser.