Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-10-17
Miscellany.
AMOS DYKES FORTUNE.

1HE time OF our uLtle tale snail De
some sixty years ago, before express
trains tore along at the rate of fifty miles
an hour, before chimney pot hats were in
fashion, and when there were many
quaint old.ways and customs in dress
which have now faded quite away.
And the hero of our tale shall be Amos
Dyke, the son of Hollington carrier.
Old Peter Dyke, the Hollington carrier,
lived in little side place of 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 carrier
Old Peter died, leaving son about ten
years of age, and enough for him to start
well 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 this task? Crust
was nothing 10th; he promised to defend
the boy and do the best he could for him;
and as Crust was an honest man, every
thing promised fair for Amos. Old Peter
Dykes business was sold at his death, ac-
cording to his express wish; and accord
ing to arrangement made between the
miller and the old man, the proceeds were
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 neighbor-
hood afforded, and acted honorably by
him in every way. Thus grew up Amos
Dyke to manhood; and side by side with
him grew Mary Crust. And often, if the
truth were known, the worthy miller look
ed with satisfaction upon them, as they
sat one on each side of this 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 would be more
fourishing than ever There was one
drawback to this agreeable prospect
Amos Dyke was rather of dreamy ma
ture-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 keep
doing, and Amos was now twenty, and
Mary was eighteen-and in another year,
on New Years Day, Amos would be of
age, and would come in for his share of
the mill. BE hoped also to come in for
his share of Mary. But alas! there was a
heavy cloud looming over the Hollington
mill The worthy miller entered into a
large-toO large-contract to supply flour
at a given price for several months; he
thought he knew what he was about, and
if others had been as true to him as he
was in his dealings, all would have been
we'll; but the contract proved his ruin.
One dreadful morning the post brought
him the announcement that he was a
bankrupt-he, and Amos, and Maryland
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 on bread and cheese he could live
again; but there were others to think OF
too. Ahlathe "others"-these are what
makes life's trials and losses often so hard
to bear. To see them pinched; this soon
doubles trials and losses.
And the weight of it proved too much
for honest John; the trouble struck him
with deadly chill, and he did not sur.
vive long.
Amos tended the miller, along with
Mary, during his short illness; and as the
time drew near when it was plain that
the good man could not last long, hs
gave them both his last directions.
Amos, said the dying man, eff this
trouble had not come you would sooner
or later have had all the uollington mill
your own share and mine too; for Mary is
all have in the world, and she would have
been yours, and with her whatever had
but now it is all gone. But whatever ha
gone our good name has not; and, be
lieve me, a good name is worth money
IT'S worth respect and honor and trust
which are better than money, but thes
often bring money too. IT'S al
awful thing when parents leave thei
children bad name; my poor schOol-fe
low, Bence Porter used to say that it too
him seven years to wipe off his father
name from him-ay-seven years har
work, had he, as an honest man, befor
any one for miles round would trust hir
with shilling, though he was as homes
as the sum- And, now. Amos, give. u
day dreaming. Perhaps you thought yo
could afford it when you had tidy fol
tune coming to you, and while you ha
no responsibility or care, for l was th
head of everything. Well, you wer
wrong there; no man can day-dream will
out coming to loss; out II you could NJ
afford it then, how much less now. B.
lieve me, Amos, folks dc not dream then
selves into anything. Be up and doing
and with Gods blessing all may yet
well. Keep from wishing, wishing, an
be doing, doing, and with industry, no,
esty, and thrift, and the blessing of yor
God, you will do we'll"
This was the last talk the miller ha
with Amos about worldly things, thoue
he said much more to him about the ha
pier and better land-for the good m,
had that above which no losses or ban
ruptcies could take away.
Mary Crust had to do what she cou