Once a Week (magazine)/Series 1/Volume 3/Barlow Brothers’ books

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BARLOW BROTHERS’ BOOKS.
Between twenty and thirty years ago Reuben and Samuel Barlow commenced to trade together as grocers under the style and title of Barlow Brothers. Up to the present day a brass-plate may be seen—by those who know where to look for it—bearing the inscription, “Barlow Brothers, Grocers.” When the plate was first engraved it was displayed at the door of a shop, where men, if so minded, might purchase ounces of tea and pennyworths of figs. In those early days Reuben and Samuel stood themselves behind the counter, and how humble soever the customers, whose wants they might be called upon to supply, there was no diminution in the courtesy with which they were wont to demand, “How can we serve thee this morning?” or “Shall we send it in, or wilt thou take it with thee?” But, after fifteen or sixteen prosperous years, Barlow Brothers went so far towards kicking down the ​ladder by which they had risen, that they declined for the future to enter into transactions of this limited nature, and having taken counsel together, turned their shop into a warehouse, the floor above into offices, sent out a circular of thanks to the more important of their retail customers, be

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