The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-04-16

Ihat Is, every firm but Bourne & Co.
Bourne d Co. have not yet unlocked
their doors, nor unbolted tlieir iron shut.
ters' Not a soul belonging to tho house
and the house has many souls belong
ing to it's at its post. The errand boy
came at his customary hour, but seeing a
slip OF paper on the door, he went home
again, eating his dinner on the way, and
entering into business on his own account,
won pocket full of marbles from a mil
l'onaire OF his own age, living in the same
alley. Bourne d. Co. will not open to
day.
What is The matterl not failed, hone.
Bourne & Co. fail such suppos,ton
would never be ventured by one who
Knew the house. Bourne L. Co.. ,i~. are
merchants Of old standing, and of unlinri,.
ed means and credit, none oe your musb.
room shop keepers who flourish to day
and to morrow are no moro. No mercan.
tile "hard times" has ever affected them
their paper has always been first rate
They nave seen hundreds of old houses
fail, and will probably see hundreds more.
Every store in the State closed in the
great crash Of 81, but Bourne & Co. re.
maiued open. But now they are closed.
They have just been called upon to pay a
debt, or rather the head to the firm has.
q personal debt to an inexorabIe creditor,
who has seized, aud ROW holds his BODY.
1t would be vain for theta 10 offer bail
1t would not be taken. Read tic slip Of
paper on the door, and you will see why
the store Is closed. Closed in coxse.
quence Of a death IN the tamiiy." All!
Death, then, is the creditor!
Yes, Jan es Bourne, you are dead at
last, rs dead rs the poor hod carrier who
tambled from your buildings Yesterday.
Your million and half could no more
save you, than his empty pockets could
save hm. Your elegant mansion adorns
Fifth Avenue; his miserable sLanty de-
grades even Poverty Row; but impartial
Death has Knocked at the doors OF both,
and served ye beth With his stern sum.
mons. James Bourne and Patrick Flynn,
may God have mercy on you!
| knew the merchant millionaire, part.
ly from my friend Simpkips being book
keeper IN his house, and paytly because I
have the es,lree into the set in which tile.
Bourncs move. In my card basket, lie
tween oursevles it is merely sauccr.)
have dainty cna,ncled carl on which
Mrs. Bourne presents her compliments
70 Mr.. Blank, aud requests the pleasure
Of his company on Wednesday eyeniucs.n
Socially / am below the Bournes, but in
tellectdally am their equal. They ad
mirc my writings, especially when write
OF fashionable life, and think me, they are
pleased to say, "a young man Of prom.
ise.' had heard from Simpkins that
Bourne was sick. but had no idea he was
in danger. And here he VAS dead Il
startled me,
turned about and walked up Court.
landt Street again, picking my way
around the cases and bales on the side
walks, now catching my coat tails in their
hoops, ,:aDA COW LCesking my shins against
their sharp corners.
How pal,ry and trivial all these things
are" said | TO myself. compared with
the mystery Of Death! These bales and
cases, 6lled with costly stuffs, silks, saiins
aud clo,l,s--was il worth while TO import
them FROM qyes sea 70. beautdy bodies Of
dust, so soon to he wrapt in sl,rouds Z Is
IL worih while TO spend months aud years
in counting houses, watching the fiuc,ua-
tons Of the market, giving aud taking
notes, pouring over dag hooks and lesers,
and the mysteries Of double and single en-
try. when in moment Death will come,
aud end alli Isec the name "BoueSE,'
shining on the great gilt sign, but what
mockcry His There is no longera Bourne
--onlya cold dead body, statue Of life
less clay"
Running on In this vein TO the de,ri-
ment Of trade and commerce, | reached
broadway. The river Of life was flowing
there faster than. ever The ompibnses
tore by fariOusly, cutting, each other of,
and jamming each other IN narrow places,
sa<il they were wsdged together for
blocks. Crowds were crossing the street
10 all directions, creeping under The heads
Of the horses, and dodg;ng around the
ends OF the poles. All WAS noise and
confusion. Il was strange contrast to
that closed store, in whose dark counting
rooms and darker lofts order and silence
rcigned, and j, Jared on my thoughts
painfully.
+ But while I stood there, heard q
strain Of music in tire distance, q strain OF
q,ourpful music that charm ed away the
dissonance, and harmonixsd tho extremes
Life and pcstii. Il came nearer and
nearer, preceding a soldiers fpDeral,- -
The policeaaan drove tie refractory omni.
buses Into the side streets, and cleued a
path, down which tie musicians insrebed,
keeping time TO the tune they played I
gave myself up to the music like the yeri
est d,iiJs My heart quickeaed, Njjhln me
when the snafe drum rstdcd The reyeille !;
I was pierced throueh and through with
the sharp notes Of the Rfe; the kugle iii:
ed me with diyiner life. rich, warm, and
loving, bat as sad rs death and the slow
tap Of the bass drum thundered'' against
me like Fate. Itrwss IN the midst OF a
great battle where lie and death were
comending. knew that must TALL, soon
OF late, like the soldier there 10 the hearse,