The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-03-01

i. mus, be mentioned that Peter had no,
been suffered to sink without nh attempt al
recovery. He had been frequently talked
10 as to his conduct; and in his difficulties
many q pound-no,e and halfcrown had
been administered. On one occasion bis
friends in the club got him appointed to q
post in the excise-ofiice, suitable, one would
have thought, to bis capacities. II consist
Cd Of nothing more than sitting in lobby
reading the 'Edinburg Courant, aud at
tending TO bell No. 80. Peter, however,
possessed nm unfortunate tendency down
wards, which could not be resisted. One
day he answered bell No. % in condition
approaching CIRRUS, which the ringer Of the
said bell. a very peremptory sort Of gentle
man, considered go objectionable piece
Of eccentricity, that he forthwith dismissed
the luckIcss Peter. After this affair, he
wandered out Of one mischief into another,
and, as has been said, was ut length sen
fenced to transportation. Unfortunate be-
ing! he lived not to be nm exile. Before
the eighteenth llogmanny, intelligence ar
rived Of the wreck ri the convict ship
which was carrying Peter to his destinn.
ton, and that he had persisted in the bill
lows.
Il would be useless 10 dwell infinitely on
the succeeding anniversaries, and we pass
on 10 the filtieth Hogmanay, tho 3lst of
December, 1897. What a change had
come over the club! Only four were alive.
and of these three made their appearance
two having travelled some hundreds Of
miles in order to be present at what they
called the jubilee. Such a jubilee! Three
old men. two with their gray hairs, and the
third bald-voices no longer sonorous and
confident, but sobcred down 10 gravity and
dccorum. Still there were pleasant con-
gratulations and inquiries after the welfare
Of sons and grandsons. which were quite
cheering to their old hearts. When the
parting came, there was a moment Of real
sadness. One of the three observed tha,
he had a presentiment that they should
never meet sgsin--it could not be expect
ed in the course Of nature, even it other
circumstances permitted. And from re.
Elections on the possibility Of further dim
mutton Of numbers, he passed on 10 remark
how singulnr'y hnprv had been the fortune
Of the party gcncrn!ly-iha,i in almost eve-
~ instance the well-doing Of the respective
members, as tar 10 temporal means were
concerned, had been in great degree i'm
putable 10 tho mutnal improvement classes !;
while Of the few who had been unsuccess-
tul in their career. each had clearly himself
to blame, because everything which friend
snip could suggest had been done Cor them
Il end with this reflection, which make
after long experience concluded the old
man, that those who will not Take some
pains themselves to get up in the world,
cannot be dragged up"
The presen,i,Denf of the aged member
proved too true. Ere the fifty first anni-
vcrsar,, he Ind joined the great mn iori,v
If the dead. The Hoomanay Of 1877. wns
the siytie,h anniversary Of the club
Will il be credited? There was meeting.
The two survivors met. but il was for tho
last time. A short time ago one was re
moved, after long and wcll-spsnt lie, and
now sleeps with his fathers in the south
west corner Of the Grey friars' Church
yard.
Loitercrs in Princes Street, NAV observe
on fine forcnoons, a handsome carriage roll
ing along nj a moro than usually gentle
pnce. II is driven by an old coachman in
a flaxen wig, but inside there is a man still
older; his face is snnken. bis eyes are dim,
aud his figure is seen reclining in cnrncr,
MS If unconscious that no pcrtained to liv-
ing aud breathing world DO not envy
that poor old gentleman his apparently
luxurious indulgence. lie has seen twelve
Of his denrest friends, the joyous compan-
ions Of his youth. disappear from tho stage
Of existence. He has the misfortune to be
the sole remaining mc,nber-the last man
Of the CR0sscAUsEwAY CLUB!