Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-05-21
GOURLAY,ll, BROTHERS.

windows and massive double door, that
still bears brass plate with the words
"Gourlay Brothers" engraved thereon.
The lower part of the house was used
as an office, but the blinds were, rarely
drawn up, the door seldom swung back
to the energetic push Of customers, the
long passage echoed no hurried footsteps
and Eli Haggart, the clerk, was to all ap-
pearance the idlest man in London, till
one carae to know his masters Wy -
The Gourlay Brothers were never any
buster than their faithful old servant
never hurried, never furrled or worried;
never late and never early. Every morn
ing at ten O'Clock they entered their Of
fee together, read their letters, glanced
at the Times, left instructions. for pos
sible callers, and then went to the city.
They always took the same route; at elev-
en-, they might be seen passing alongsthe,
sunny side Of Cannon Street, 1T half past
one they entered the same restaurant, and.
sat at the same table for luncheon. Wet
or dry, shade or shine, sum ncr or winter,
every working day for thirty years they
had gone through the same routine, al
ways excepting the month of September,
when they took their usual holiday.
They were elderly men { John, tall,
thin, melancholy looking, with light
gray eyes, scanty gray hair and whiskers,
and general expression of drabness per-
vading his whole face and fault lesss meat
attire. Roger was shorter, rounder, more
cheerful, ard generally warmer in color.
Ills pervadlng hue was brown, keen red
dish eyes that must have been merry
once, crisp auburn hair that time had not
quite yet transmitted to silver, "a. clean
shaved ruddy face, and brown hands full
of dents and dimpless John was the
elder, still he looked'up to Roger with
grave respect, consulted HIM on every
subject, and never in Of ont Of business,
took any step without his advice Or ap.
prevail. And Roger was no less deferens
tial: without any profession CT affection,
or display Of feeling, the rGourlay BROTH
ers dwelt together In the 4 clsset friend.
ship and love; their life was a long har
mony, and during all the years of their
partnership no shadow had fallen be!
tween them, and their public life was as
harmonious as their private intercourse.
In business they were successful; every
speculation they made prospered, every
thing they touched turned to gold and
as their whole lives were spentin getting,
not spending, they werc believed, and
with reason, to be immensely wealthy.
"Cold, hard, stern, enterprislng,'' men
called them with an acuteness Of vision
and steadiness of purpose only to be
acquired by long and close application to
business. Reserved in manner, simple
in their tastes, economicalin their 'hablts,
the Gourlay Brothers were the last men
IN the world to be suspected ofsentiments
their lives the least likely to contain even
the germs of a romance. And yet they
we're not always mere business machines
the sole end and aim Of their existence
had not always been money In early
years they had had brighter dreams,
nobler ambitions. " -, ...,- ,.>,.,
At schoollJ John had dlstinguishe j him
self, and his brief University career gave
promise Of a brilliant future. Roger had
been bright, ardent boy, with a taste
for music that was almost q passion, and
a talent little short of genius. With
his deep earnestness, intense steadinese
of purpose and clear, vigorous intellect
John could scarcely have failed to, make
a distinguished lawyer. Roger wasa d
born artist, with a, restless, lofty ambi-
ton. Life seemed vefys bright for the
brothers there was nothing I'd prevent
and every thing TO. assist each in fol.
lowing his inclination But III the very
dawn of their career their father died
and they were suddenly reduced from at.
fuence to actual poverty. Nothing re.
NAMED from tho wreck, Of q magnificent
fortune but tho bitter experience that al
ways accompanies such reverses. Fine
friends failed them, fatterers looked
coldly in their distress, those who had
most frequently partakcn OF their lavish
hospitality passed by on the other side
Not friend remained in their adve1sltJ
but one, and she had indeed the will but
not the power to help them. The boyl
lett college, and turned their thoughts Il
business. It was hopeless to attempt t.
follow up their professions, with an IN
valid mother and idolized only sister de
pending On them for support. John se
cured q situation as clerk in city ware
house. Roger: accepted desk in the of
fee of Bernard RUSSELL, tan old Tfriends Ol
his fathers. They moved to cheap lodg
ings, and Tor several years plodded 81
wearily, the only glesm Of sunshine u
their altered home being the occasiona
visits ofifAlice Russell to their sister
Maude stGourlaJ and Alice had tbeel
schoolfellows and friends; they usual,
spent their vacations together, and Alic
talt the misforfune that had fallen Of