Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-06-28
From the Saturday Courier.
"PETER, THE STORE is TOO LONG"

"PETER, THE STORE is TOO LONG"
Peter Brigham paid his last penny to the
toll-gatherer at Charles River, as he made
his entrance into Boston. He walked about
most Of the forenoon, and finally asked
gentleman near one of the insurance Offices
ifhe wished 'to hire ?"-Struck with the ap-
pearance Of the lad, he said "yes," and Pc
ter was provided with comfortable home,
as sort Of "do ALP in gentemah's family.
To make a long story short, Peter was no
common youth, and he gradually rose in
the employ of Mr.. Parker, till foryears and
years he was his head clerk, and finally at
the age of % he was admitted into the
house as partner, at one third tie profits.
The well known house of "Parker & Co."
continued for good number of years, and
one OF the largest establishments Of the day.
The senior partner then retired, leaving
the whole concern in the hands Of the jun
ior, and for thirty years the houst continu-
ed to grow with the growth of TIL city, un-
dor the prudent management CIR. y,rity--
ham.-He was esteemed merchant Of the
utmost integrity, and maintained most en-
viable reputation during his long mercantile
career.
One day the old gentleman said to Peter,
Jr.. his eldest son, who had been brought up
in the store
"Do you think you could manage bust.
ness alone? | leave you the store-a large
stock of goods, and perhaps the best set Of
customers of any dealer in Boston but re-
member, Peter, 1 paid my last penny to the
toH.man as entered Boston,"
The elder Brigham retired to Watertown
in neat country abode. Peter went on
in the business. The spirit of Improvement
got abroad, and Peter thought that he must
tear down the old store, and erect an ele-
giant one with a granite 'front.' and Of great
depth, to accommodate his business. When
he got comfortably into it, with elegant fix
lures to match, the elder looked in upon
Peter, Jr.
"How do you like the store, father?"
"Peter, the store is too long"
Peter, Jr. continued 10 extend his OPERA
tons, and finally became an importer Of the
teas and coffee he sold at Wholesale
was considered desirable match for most
any young lady, and in the following year
espoused Julia Wentworth, an heiress of
thirty thousand. He purchased an elegant
mansion opposite the Mall, and of course
fitted it up in great splendor, becoming the
high circle in which his beautiful bride would
move. The father of Peter claimed the
privilege of presenting the mirrors for the
dining room. They arrived from Liver.
pool the day before the nuptial dinner par
ty. The old gentleman had personally SUI
perintended their adjustment in the hall.
All the Wentworths and Brighams were a.
round the festive board, when speaking OF
the nuptial present, the son, in the joyous
ness of the occasion exclaimed,
"Father, I've not seen the mirrors you
Il gave u.s."
"They are suspended in this hall, my
son."
All eyes were turned upon them-when
on a golden tablet GROWING the reflector
they read
"PETER, THE STORE is TOO LONG,
Peter recolected the remark of the ole
gentleman, when asked his opinion Of the
store, and, although he had to laugh witt
the rest of the company, still he felt there
was a meaning in it, and he never went in
10 the dining hall but his eyes would invol
UNFAIRLY revert to the mirrors, with-"Peter
the store is too long," However Peter wen
ahead in business. He had married for
tune, besides the excellent business left hin
i, by his father-and Brigham, r. was M
/, small man on Change. He fell into a spec
ulating mania which seemed to have pos
sessed the people of the age. His notes
were as good as bank notes, and his credi
9 was "a. No. l." Every body was making
! fortunes in stocks, and was there any earth
!, ly reason why he should not He went in
: to the fancy line pretty largely. The cot
i ton speculation too was all the rage, and h,
, went into the adventure as matter o
!, course. And why not add a million or 81
!, by purchasing lots in the west Mr.. Dol
; bier made two millions by the sale of hi
! lots where the city of Orient now rears it:
aspiring head--and Brigham jr. went $40,
: 600 into the lots of the intended city o
IIamiltonia, the most beautiful site, (situat
d ed on the confluence of six rivers,) in al
/. the teemng empire of the mighty west.
e was whispered on Change that he had mad
e more than half million in stocks and west
q ern lots, and that he was to make four humid
!. red thousand in his Eastern Townships
j. he was written down as millionaire
). and at the Lext election, Peter Brigham, il
n was made President of the Bank of Elk
g change.
e But there must have been race Of Pc
9 ter Brighams, jr., in the days of Shakes
l. peare-
Il "There is tide in the affairs Of men,"
= and Peter found his on the ebb,in the mids
j of the money pressure. Stocks down-co
- ton ditto-western lots no sale--easter
townships ditto. As last resort Peter wa
, obliged TO visit the country seat of his fatl
: er at Watertown, to solicit funds to bel
:, him through the pressure, or he must fai
: = The prudent old merchant sat down an
y took cool survey Of Peters affairs. II
then called the servant to bring him som
i bank checks, one of which he filed OF
!, thus:
: "Pay to Peter Brighamjr. one penny,th
: amount possessed by his father when he al
rived at Charles River Bridge--and the be1
Inheritance father can give his son to be
- gin the world with.
i PETER BRIGHAM"
:. The next day the failure of the house {