A MEMOIR. 47 



we know has not suggested itself to any one, but in which 

 we believe, had he had the preliminary training, he would 

 have attained great distinction — we mean, the profession 

 of arms. To begin with, a soldier's career always had the 

 strongest fascination for him; and all his life, many of his 

 spoken as well as his written thoughts, were tinctured 

 with a martial ring. Then his intellectual characteristics, 

 or at least those which predominated, were such as are 

 usually found in military men of the first order; and 

 finally, he possessed in the highest degree attributes, 

 where in victory he would have displayed the magna- 

 nimity of Ulysses S. Grant, and in defeat, the serenity 

 of Robert E. Lee. 



Conclusion. 



From the griefs and troubles that line our road from 

 the cradle to the grave, he was not exempt ; but, over 

 all, his life was a happy one. Blessed with good health 

 all his days, showered with the gratitude and applause 

 of his fellow-men, finding in the daily contemplation of 

 plant life, a delight and a charm of which he never wear- 

 ied, with the consciousness which for him had a special 

 significance, " that he who makes two blades of grass 

 grow where but one grew before, is a benefactor to his 

 race;" and then at last to die, as he always hoped he 

 might die, "in harness," Peter Henderson, when his 

 hour came, calmly and smilingly bade the world good 

 night. 



During the forty-two years of his business life, Mr. 

 Henderson employed a large number of people, many 

 of whom have long since preceded him to the grave. 

 Could we gather the testimony of that fragment of the 

 silent host, we may be sure it would be akin to that which 

 the living felt, when his great heart ceased to beat — that 

 in him had been lost, not only the just and generous 

 employer, the unselfish adviser, but the best of friends. 

 From those who in business relations stood closest to 

 him, down to the humblest employe, all mourned and 

 will miss for many a day the presence of the king-like 

 man whose kindly sceptre swayed them all. 



