The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-19
AMOS DYKES FORTUNE.

ANUS DlhES' FUhIlNE.
The time Of our little tale shall be some
sixty years ago, before express trains tore
along at the rate of fifty miles an hour,
before chilnney.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 lIolllngtOn carrier,
lived in a little side place Oft 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 q good business and,
at last he became the lIOllingtOu carrier,
Old Peter died leaving a son about ten
years Of age, and enough for him to start
well In life, and something more. Butas
he was so young It was necessary that lie
should have some sno To look after him
and his property; and who 30 iit rs the
miller, Crust, TO undertake the task
Crust was nothing 10th; he promised to
defend the boy and do the best he could
for him; aud rs 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 arrangement made be-
tween the miller and the old man, the
proceeds were all invested II. the llill-a
ilourislllg concern-and one out Of which
nll the neighbors said fortune must soon.
or or later be made. y p +
The prospects of Amos Dyke, then, were
about as bright as those Of any young
man in his rank Of life oil the country
round.
The miller did not neglect his young
charges education. He gave him the
very best the neighbOrhOOd afforded, and
acted lonorably by him in every way.
Thus grew up Amos Dyke to manhood ;
and side bysside with him grew Mary
Crust. And often, Il the truth were
known, tho 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 aud foot Of the table, and per.
haps the mill will be more ilourishing
than ever.
There was one drawback to this agree.
able prospect. Amos Dyke was rather
Of dreamy nature-hc was oitel absent as
though bis thoughts were far away, and
lie had to own that many time when lie
should have been attending what he was
at, he was building castles In the air in.
stead. .ff ifII
Time passed on MS II, will always keep
doing and Amos was now 90, and Mary
was is-and in another year, on New
Years Day, Amos would be Of age, and
would come in for his share Of tile mill.
lie hoped also to come In for his share Of
Mary. t It.t'
But alasl there was heavy cloud
looming over the HOllington mill. The
worthy miller entered into large--tOO
large acontract to supply flour at given
price for several months; he thought lie
knew what he was about, and il Others
had been as true to him as he was in bis
dealings, all would have been well; but
the contract proved his ruin. One dread.
ful morning the post brought him the an
nOuncement that he was a bAnkrupt-he,
and Amos, and Maryland all Of them
were unlOne. DO @ .1H8a
Honest John Crust could have borne
his own losses well enough, II he had nc
oneelse 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 OIL
too. Ali the "dthers'Ithesu arc what
makes liCes trials and losses often so hard
to bear. To see them want-to see them
pinched: this soon doubles trials and
losses.
And the weight of Il proved too much
for honest John; the trouble struck him
with a deadly chill, and he did mot sur
yivo long. -,
Amos tended the miller along with
Mary, during his short illness; and as the
time drew near when Il wasplAin that the
good man could not last long, lie gave
hem both his last directions.
"AmOs, .. said the dying man, 'lf thli
TOuOle nhu nOJ come you WVuiu 7"Vhs, y,
or later have had all the HOllingion mil
your own share and mine too; fol
Mary Is all have in the world, and she
wOuld have been yours, and with hel
whatever ! had; but now II Is oil done
But whatever has gone our good nam'
has not; and, believe me, AgcOd name !,
worth money. 'Ti' worth respect an(
honor anu trust, which are better thar
money, bnt these onen bring money too
lis an awful thing when parents leave
their children bad name; my poOI
tohOol.felloW Denoo Porter used to soy
that II took him seven years to wipe OF
his fathers name from him-ay--sever
years hard work, had lie, as an homes
iuaB, before any ono for miles rom.
wonid trnst him with a shilling, thougl
he wa ashonest o. the sun. Aud, now
Amos, give mp day.dreamiug. Perhap
you though. yon could afford II when yo'
knew you had tidy fortune coming !,
you, and while you bad no responsihilit,
or care. for / was Tie head Of everything
Well, you were wrong there; no ma
can day.dream without coming to lo's