contemplate Jackson's piece of workmanship with an admiration and
enthusiasm which the contents of Italian gallaries have failed to
arouse in me.

Well, the months flew by until some time in the spring of 1855, when
the town was electrified by the sudden and totally unexpected failure
of Messrs. Gowanlock and Van Duzer, who up to that time were currently
reported to be one of the wealthiest and most thriving firms in the
State. Their failure was not only a great misfortune for the workmen,
who were thus thrown out of present employment--for the creditors did
not carry on the business--but was regarded as a public calamity to the
town and neighbourhood, the prosperity whereof had been enhanced in no
inconsiderable degree by the carrying on of so extensive an
establishment in their midst, and by the enterprise and energy of the
proprietors, both of whom were first-rate business men. The failure was
in no measure attributed either to dishonesty or want of prudence on
the part of Messrs. Gowanlock and Van Duzer, but simply to the
invention of a new patent which rendered valueless the particular
agricultural implement which constituted the specialty of the
establishment, and of which there was an enormous stock on hand. There
was not the shadow of a hope of the firm being able to get upon its
legs again. The partners surrendered everything almost to the last
dollar, and shortly afterwards left Illinois for California.

Now, this failure, which more or less affected the entire population of
Peoria, was especially disastrous to poor Fink. For past years he had
been saving money, and as Messrs. Gowanlock and Van Duzer allowed
interest at a liberal rate upon all deposits left in their hands by
their workmen, all his surplus earnings remained untouched. The
consequence was that the accumulations of years were swamped at one