18 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



"I knew a boy, son of a poor man, who was faithful 

 to his parents and did every task given him. When but 

 thirteen years old a nearb}^ merchant asked him if he 

 would not like to come to his store as clerk, saj'ing, 

 ' I have been watching you for a j-ear or two and think 

 you would suit me.' He was engaged for a year which 

 he sensed out faithfully. Another merchant had been 

 watching this boj' of fourteen years and engaged him in 

 his employ, where he remained for five j^ears at high 

 wages. About this time a neighboring merchant, whose 

 partner had retired, told this young man that he had 

 been watching him for five 3'ears and if he could be 

 spared by his present emploj-er he would give him a 

 good chance and perhaps make him a partner in his 

 business as soon as he became of age. This was arranged 

 and the next 5'ear, 1839, when he became twent5'-one3-ears 

 old, he was made a partner in the best and largest lumber 

 concern on the St. Croix river." Then, as was Mr. 

 Boardman's way in all his entertaining -uTritings, he 

 enforced the moral of this incident b}^ saying : "Did not 

 this boy make money ever}- day when the rich men were 

 watching him ? His faithfulness to little things to all 

 things that came in his way was what made a fortune 

 for him, as it would for an\^ other boy who acted similarl3\ 

 Somebod}^ will tell other somebodies, until the boj-'s 

 character is known as far as he is known." 



Such is a true picture of the starting in business life 

 of George A. Boardman, from his own pen. The man 

 who had watched the bo}" so closely and taken so deep 

 an interest in him on account of his faithfulness to his 

 emploj'er's interests was Mr. William Todd, one of the 

 early pioneers and business men on the St. Croix river. 



