, 1863-02-21
The $1,000 Note.


Mr.. Douglas was in business. Not so far from
the Bank as is Snowdon's summit from its base
was Mr.. Douglas establishment, which he cor
templaied with great satisaction--as, indeed, he
well might, for the windows displayed an amount
of jewelry and costly articles "unequalled" (as
might be learned from the covers of contemporary
magazineS) "by any house in the word"-"in the
world, sir," would Mr. Douglas say to his ac-
quaintance, putting the expressive noun in large
capitals.
Mr.. Douglas had risen from the ranks to his
present position, and it was his wont to boast he
had never made bad debt, or was "done p
1t was once remarked, in his hearing that to get
the best of him one must rise very early in the
morning. Whereupon Mr.. Douglas said "They
mustn't 60 to bed at all, sir and then they could
not do it"
We have shown sufficient of Mr.. Douglas for
the purposes of the present narrative. He was
but the type of hundreds of our shrewd tradesmen.
1t was noon; he was in his counting-house, and
the broad thoroughfare was thronged with equip
ages, one of which drew up before his door, and a
mild-ooking gentleman in undressed naval uni
form aighted from the carriage and walked into
the shop. Mr.. Douglas looked over the curtain
of his counting-house window, and, being too late
to see his customer, he fell to examining his We
hicle, by which, not less than the man. he calcula-
ted the quality, and weighed in his mind the ne
cessity of personal attendance. After careful
survey he returned from the window laid down
the pen he had been writing with saying the while
to himself "Plan-certainly plain but it has the
ar about it," And, repeating this observation
be passed into the shop, where his customer, a
good looking man, but extremely sad and deli
cate for a sea captain was awaiting him but this
delicacy became quite natural as the result of re-
cent injuries and consequent illhealth, from which
he was evidently still suffering as his right arm
was in sling.
"Good morning, sir" said the bland tradesman;
spray be seated. What can show you, sir ?"
Il have injured my watch, and some gentlemen
present, when it FELL recommended me to you
both for promptnesss and efficiency said the
gentleman in uniform taking from the chain at his
breast gold repeater.
"Indeed sir am sure they did me great hon
or but we do please, sir-we study to do it, and
we succeed Returned from the Crimea recently,
sir ?"
"Not very but this is the first time have been
out, in consequence of my wounds said the
captain-for such be appeared to be-seating
himself ass ar.
"External injuries" said the obsequious
Douglas, bowing, while he examined the
watch.
"Yes," said his customer.
External and internal also"
"Why, yes,' again calculated the captain.
rather surprised at the interest taken in his
wounds.
"Indeed, we might say the vital chord is sever
ed"
"Not quite so bad as that, hope!" was the re-
sponse, accompanied by feeble smile.
"Quite, sir, l assure you, quite. We can get no
motion-none whatever"
And he gave the watch twist.
"Oh, the watch-ah, to be sure" said the re-
lieved but mistaken captain.
"Yes, allow me to hope your injuries are not of
so serious nature. This shall be attended to
during the week sir. And now, may 1 make
bold to inquire who of my friends were kind
enough to say good word for mea Lyons
Dundas P'
"Well, yes, certainly they were present but it
was Captain Berry more particularly"
"Ah, my old friend Captain Berry. Is he still
of the'Achiles" and has he escaped unhurt ?" said
the shopkeeper, whom the reader will perceive to
have becoming love for great men.
"Hes true to his old boards, and had his usual
luck-much glory and but little dangerP' said
the captain, evidently chagrined at Berry's supe
rior fortune, and rising to go.
"Can do nothing more for you to-day ?"
why, being about to retire, do want little
plate but another time"
"No time like the present allow me to show you
some ;" and the courteous Douglas led the way
iuto the showroom, where he was more than ever
convinced Of his customers gentilly, by the costly