The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-06-25
AMOS DYKES FORTUNE.

before chimney-pot hats were in fashion,
and when there were many quaint old ways
and customs in dress and manners which
have now faded quite away.
And the hero of our tale shall be Amos
Dyke, the son of the Hollington carrier.
Old Peter Dyke, the Hollington carrier,
lived in a little side place off the main
street of the town, and commenced life
with only few shillings in his pocket. By
honest industry he had accumulated enough
to establish good business, and at last
he became the Hollington carriOr.
Old Peter died, leaving a son about ten
years of age, and enough for him to start
we'll in life, and something more. But as
he was so young it was necessary that he
should have some one to look after him and
his property; and who SO fit as the miller,
Crust, to undertake the task? Crust was
nothing loath; he promised to befriend the
boy, and do the best he could for him; and
as Crust was an honest man, everything
promised fair for Amos.
Old Peter Dykes business was sold at his
death, according to his express wish; and
according to arrangements made between
the miller and the old man, the proceeds
were all invested in the mill-a flourish
ing concern--and one out of which all the
neighbors said fortune must sooner or
later be made.
The prospects of Amos Dyke, then, were
about as bright as those Of any young man
in his rank of life all the country round.
The miller did not neglect his young
charges education. He gave him the very
best the neighborhood afforded, and acted
honorably by him in every way.
Thus grew up Amos Dyke to manhood;
and side with him grew Mary Crust. And
often, if the truth were known, the worthy
miller looked with satisfaction upon them,
as they sat one on each side of his table,
and thought that perhaps some day, when
he was gone, Amos and Mary would be in
their places at the head and foot Of the table,
and perhaps the mill be more fourishing
than ever.
BILE prospect. Amos Dyke was rather Of a
dreamy nature--he was often absent as
though his thoughts were far away; and he
had to own that many time when he
should have been attending to what he was
at, he was building castles in the air instead
Time passed on, as it will always keer
doing, and Amos was now twenty and
Mary was eighteen-and in another year,
on New Year's-day, Amos would be of age
and would come in for his share of the mill.
He hoped also to come in for his share OF
Mary. .a....
But alas alas there was heavy cloud
looming over the Hollington mill. The
worthy miller entered into large toe
large contract to supply flour at given
price for several months he thought he
knew what he was about and if others had
ings, all would have been well but the con-
tract proved his ruin. One dreadful morn
ing the post brought him the announcement
that he was bankrupt-he, and Amos
and Mary-all of them were undone.
Honest John Crust could have borne his
own losses well enough, if he had no one
else to think of but himself. Time was
when he had only bread and cheese and or
bread and cheese he could live again ; but
there were others to think of too. All
the "others" these are what makes life''
trials and losses often SO hard to bear. Tt
see them want---to see them pinched this
soon doubles trial and loss.
And the weight of it proved too mucl
for honest John the trouble struck hin
with deadly chill, and he did not survive
it long.
Amos tended the miller along with Mary
during his short illness and as the tim,
drew near when it was plain that the gooC
man could not last long, he gave them botl
his last directions.
"Amos," said the dying man, if thi
trouble had not come You would sooner o
later have had all the Hollington mill-you
own share and mine too for Mary is all
have in the world, and she would have beel
yours, anu WIFI hef WhaCoFel h"u pu
now it is all gone. But whatever has gon
our good name has not and, believe me
good name is worth money. 'Tis worth re
spect and honor and trust, which are bette
than money but these often bring none
too. 'Tis an awful thing when parent
leave their children q bad name my poo
schoolfellow Bence Porter used to say tina
it took him seven years to wipe off his ia
tharja name from him,-av-sayen wears