ELIAS BOUDINOT AND STEPHEN GIEARD 305 



support of that institution. "Well, how much do 

 you want, Coates?" asked Girard in his usual brusque 

 tones. "Just what thee pleases to give, Stephen," 

 quietly replied the Quaker. Girard wrote out a check 

 for $2,000, and, handing it to Mr. Coates, was sur- 

 prised to see that gentleman pocket it without looking 

 at the amount. "What! you don't look to see how 

 much I give you?" cried Girard incredulously. " Beg- 

 gars must not be choosers, Stephen," replied the 

 Quaker. 



" Give me back my check and I will change it," said 

 Girard after a moment's pause. 



"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, thee 

 knows, Stephen," mildly replied the Quaker. Without 

 another word Girard sat down and wrote him out a second 

 check for $5,000. 



His farm on the outskirts of Philadelphia was one of Detecting 

 the best in the country, and while living in town he often * ^'^ 

 drove out before breakfast to see that all was going well. 

 He was very exacting with his hired hands, and never 

 trusted the management of his farm to any one else, but 

 ran it himself, as he did all his affairs. Arriving one 

 morning a little earlier than usual he was greatly annoyed 

 at not finding his man at work on a fence that he was 

 building. The man's wife, noticing Girard approaching 

 the house, hurriedly awoke her husband and sent him to 

 his duties by way of the back door. After visiting the 

 house Girard returned to the fence, and seeing the man at 

 his post reprimanded him for being late. "I'd been 

 here, sir, but went back for a spade," said the workman. 

 "You lie! I went and put my hand in your bed and 

 found it warm," replied Girard, and he discharged the 

 man on the spot. 



Not only did he personally supervise the affairs of his ^yorking with 

 farm, but also prided himself on performing much of the 

 manual labour. He frequently killed as many as fifty 

 steers with the assistance of one hired man, and in 



