liciting funds for a
charitable purpose, said to me, as he returned from an interview with
your grandfather, "It is a pleasure to ask a subscription from Mr.
Charless. He gives as though you conferred a favor on him in affording
him the opportunity of 'giving.'" This was very characteristic.

Mr. Charless was a modest and very unassuming man, and never
pushed himself forward, yet he had a just estimate of his abilities,
knew what he could do, and when called upon by circumstances, or by
those with whom he acted, to take the lead, if the thing commended
itself to his judgment, without ado or apology, he went forward and did
it; and I have often been surprised to see how much he could accomplish
and how well he did what he undertook. Besides his private business
which was large, and complicated, one would think, enough for any man,
he took a most active part in all the operations of the Church, in the
various benevolent and educational schemes, in commercial and municipal
enterprises, and still found time to attend to a multitude of little
business matters for friends, who would avail themselves of his
experience, and, I will add, (being one of the number myself), impose
upon his kindness. But while always busy he never seemed in a hurry.
The fact is, he had, in addition to great energy, a most uncommon
amount of business talent. He was a thorough business man, and
conducted all his affairs on strict business principles; a little
circumstance will illustrate this: I was settling with him an account
of a few dollars, in some matter which he had attended to for me. I
handed him the money and there was a few cents in change, which neither
he nor I could make. It was so insignificant that I said, "Never mind,
Mr. Charless, that makes no difference." He replied, promptly, "But it
does make a difference; the account is not settled until that is paid,"
and away he went to the other end of the store, stepped to his cashier,
got the exact change, and handing it to me, said, with a smile, "You
preachers are too often poor business men, and I want my Pastor to be
not only a good preacher, but a good business man. The rule is, meet
your engagements to the minute and pay your debts to the cent." The
whole thing made, as he designed it should, an impression on my mind,
and has been of great advantage to me. I have often repeated the
anecdote to other clergymen, and hope it has been an advantage to them.

You will often hear