106 Votes
1317
Views
Views
Chapter 50:- The Beginning of the End
By 1860, with the number of pretenders increasing, I began to advertise my business in the Philadelphia Bulletin and Inquirer. The Bulletin was by far my favorite newspaper, as their stories were told in a more colorful and descriptive way. My ads, of course, listed my name, my address, an upscale boarding house, and that I was the “Original” and most experienced “Tree Surgeon” in the Philadelphia area. This brought an upsurge of upper-class customers that wanted the person who had worked on the wealthiest estates.
Once again, I had more business than I could handle. I took one of my original workers and put him in charge of a second crew, as Supervisor. This crew was sent to those who did not know me. I still worked personally for the upper, upper class. I raised his salary sizably to assure his loyalty. Now, we covered all of Germantown and over to Rittenhouse Square.
I made and banked more money, not spending more than was absolutely necessary. I began considering hiring an accountant. I seemed on my way to becoming very affluent, but was that what I really wanted? I kept feeling I would like to travel.
I continued my weekly letters to Mother telling her and Father about what I was doing. I never told her about the constable and my “problem” for I knew she would worry and probably tell Father. Although not a large man, he would probably have taken a train and come to Germantown and thrashed Sparks. This, of course, would have gotten him into trouble. In family cases, Father could be rather impulsive. I never heard from Father although I knew mother read him my weekly letters.
Bart wanted to come to Philadelphia and make his fortune, as I had done. Because of his age, his penchant for trouble and ability to find bad friends, our parents would not permit it. They kept him on a short tether with Aunt Cora and Aunt Annie. Several times he had gotten in trouble in Palmyra running with a rough crowd, drinking, womanizing and generally causing chaos. The police had even been called once and Aunt Cora was not happy about getting him out of jail.
Obie was an occasional, but brief, visitor when his train came down the “main line.” He would rent a horse and ride up to Germantown and ask at my boarding house for directions to where I was working. It was very good to see him. He seemed to have grown more since the last time I had seen him.
By 1860, with the number of pretenders increasing, I began to advertise my business in the Philadelphia Bulletin and Inquirer. The Bulletin was by far my favorite newspaper, as their stories were told in a more colorful and descriptive way. My ads, of course, listed my name, my address, an upscale boarding house, and that I was the “Original” and most experienced “Tree Surgeon” in the Philadelphia area. This brought an upsurge of upper-class customers that wanted the person who had worked on the wealthiest estates.
Once again, I had more business than I could handle. I took one of my original workers and put him in charge of a second crew, as Supervisor. This crew was sent to those who did not know me. I still worked personally for the upper, upper class. I raised his salary sizably to assure his loyalty. Now, we covered all of Germantown and over to Rittenhouse Square.
I made and banked more money, not spending more than was absolutely necessary. I began considering hiring an accountant. I seemed on my way to becoming very affluent, but was that what I really wanted? I kept feeling I would like to travel.
I continued my weekly letters to Mother telling her and Father about what I was doing. I never told her about the constable and my “problem” for I knew she would worry and probably tell Father. Although not a large man, he would probably have taken a train and come to Germantown and thrashed Sparks. This, of course, would have gotten him into trouble. In family cases, Father could be rather impulsive. I never heard from Father although I knew mother read him my weekly letters.
Bart wanted to come to Philadelphia and make his fortune, as I had done. Because of his age, his penchant for trouble and ability to find bad friends, our parents would not permit it. They kept him on a short tether with Aunt Cora and Aunt Annie. Several times he had gotten in trouble in Palmyra running with a rough crowd, drinking, womanizing and generally causing chaos. The police had even been called once and Aunt Cora was not happy about getting him out of jail.
Obie was an occasional, but brief, visitor when his train came down the “main line.” He would rent a horse and ride up to Germantown and ask at my boarding house for directions to where I was working. It was very good to see him. He seemed to have grown more since the last time I had seen him.
