On the 25th of March, 1869, he was at his usual post in his office, and after business hours, as was his habit, set out with his daughter for a drive in the Central Park, As he neared the Park the pole of his carriage broke suddenly, and the horses, becoming frightened, dashed off furiously, dragging the carriage after them.  Mr. Harper and his daughter were both thrown violently upon the pavement.  The latter was but slightly injured, but Mr. Harper was taken up insensible, and conveyed to St. Luke’s Hospital, which was close at hand.  He never regained consciousness, but lingered until fifteen minutes after seven on the evening of the 27th, when he expired, surrounded by all his family, excepting his wife, who had long been an invalid.  His death was regarded as a calamity to the city, and all classes of the community united to do honor to his memory.

CHAPTER XXII.

JAMES T. FIELDS.

The old “corner book-store” at the intersection of Washington and School Streets, in the city of Boston, is one of the most notable places in the New England metropolis.  The memory of the oldest inhabitant can not recall a time when this corner was not devoted to its present uses; and around it, in the long years that have passed since the first book merchant first displayed his wares here, there have gathered a host of the most interesting, as well as the most brilliant, souvenirs of our literary history.  Here were sold, in “the days that tried men’s souls,” those stirring pamphlets that sounded the death-knell of British tyranny in the New World; and it was from this old corner that the tender songs of Longfellow, the weird conceptions of Hawthorne, the philosophic utterances of Emerson, first found their way to the hearts of the people.

In 1884, the corner book-store was kept by Carter & Bendee, and was then the leading book-house in Boston.  One morning in that year there entered the office of the proprietors a young lad from New Hampshire, who stated that he came to seek employment in their service.  His bright, intelligent appearance was in his favor, scarcely less than the testimonials which he brought, vouching for his integrity and industry.  His application was successful, and he entered the service of Messrs. Carter & Bendee, being given the lowest clerkship in the establishment and a salary barely sufficient to support him.

This lad was JAMES T. FIELDS.  He was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on the 30th of December, 1820.  His father was a captain in the merchant service, and died when the boy was only four years old, leaving him to the care and guidance of one of the best of mothers.  He was educated at the common schools of the city, and was thence transferred to the high school.  He exhibited a remarkable fondness for study, and at the early age of thirteen graduated at the high school, taking the first honors of his class.  He was regarded as one of the best classical