Middletown transcript., 1891-05-07

Wnen you knew you naO 10y ior-
tune coming to you, and while you
had no responsibility or care, for
was the head of everything. Well
you were wrong there no man Car
day-dream without coming to loss
but if you could not afford it then
how much less now. Believe me
Amos, folks do not dream themselve:
into anything. Be up and doing, and
with Gods blessing all may. yet be
we'll. Keep from wishing, wishing,
and be doing, doing, and with indus
try, honesty and thrift, and blessing
of your God, you will do we'll"
This was the last talk the miller
had with Amos about worldly things,
though he said much more to him
about the happier and better land
for the good man had that above
which no losses or bankruptcies could
take away.
Mary Crust had to do what she
could for her own living, for now the
mill and all belonging to it was to be
sold but she had her brave fathers
heart and courage, and was quite pre-
pared for whatever duty pointed out
as right course. Friends found her
situation as companion 10 a lady
who lived in London. 1t seemed to
be in every way what was desirable /;
and though Amos would have kept
her 10 Hollington if he could. Mary
was determined. She reminded Amos
of all her father had said to him
about day y-dreaming, that honest work
was what lay before them and if they
both stuck to it, honest work would
sooner or later bring them together as
man and wife. How soon will that
be-" said Mary Crust, " depends most
likely, Amos, npon yourself"
So the miller's daughter went off to
her situation, and Amos remained at
Hollington.
Amos Dyke was not quite without
resources. The creditors of the Hol-
lington miller, when they met, had as
their chairman a worthy Friend"
named Helps, who, at the end of the
meeting, addressed his brother credit
ors on behalf of Amos.
"There is one matter" said Mr..
Joshua Helps, which I wish to bring
before the meeting before we part; it
is the case of the young man Dyke. /
think we ought to show pity for that
young man; he is now beggared
through no fault of his own; and /
would propose a subscription on his
behalf. II there be anyone who will
follow me, | will give 910 to begin
with" ol::
The proposition of the worthy
Quaker was successful. 9100 was
raised for Amos in the room.
8" Look thee here, FRIEND" said the
Quaker, !" here are the materials for
an ample fortune. Fortunes haYe
been made out of a penny piece how
much more can there be made out Of
G100? Now stir thyself and this
money Alright and thou wilt do WE'LL"
Amos took the money with much
gratitude, and in truth intended to do
no end of things with it, but day after
day slipped by, and while he intend
ed to do great deal, he really did
nothing.
And every day he found it harder
and harder to begin. He had no i'm
mediate necessity, for his money sur-
piled him with all he required, and
always thinking that this thing and
that thing were not good enough, he
allowed month after month 10 pass.
One grand chance Amos let slip.
The Hollington carrier, who had sue
ceeded his father, offered to give him
share of the business if be would
put 950 in it and undertake to drive
one of the teams himself, but Amos
was above taking to the road, and so
that chance passed away.
Now" said Amos, as he sat
dreamily by the roadside one day, as
the Guilford and London coach drove
by with a team of four splendid grays,
" If could get share in a turnout
like that I shouldn't mind driving it. "
On came the coach, and there in no
knowing how long Amos Dyke might
have sat there had not an elderly
gentleman shouted to him as he
passed, and cried, " All, friend Amos
Dyke, is that thee? What art thou
doing there? Here, coachman Halo,
coachman +! Wait one moment we'll
take up this young man for mile or
two, and I'll pay for him. Now then,
friend Amos, squeeze in here by me.
Now tell me how thou art getting on;
and what kind Of business thou hast
put that g100 in, which allows thee
to be sitting doing nothing by the
roadside at this hour of the day. My
experience of a e100 is that it re-
quires a good deal of looking after
but perhaps thou hast found some
new way Of making money while thou
dost play" 5s.l1. ,s 81
A few words, and indeed poor
Amos's looks revealed to me shrewd
Quaker exactly how the matter lay.
1t was no part of the worthy mans
intention to shame Amos before other
people, SO he said no more until they
arrived at the next stage. Then,
while the horses were being changed,
Joshua Helps said, thou hast Moth |
ing to do. 50 thou shalt come to
London with me will take care Of |
thee and bring thee back all safe to-
morrow
Amos felt thrill Of delight at the
proposition, and, in the fnllness of bis
joy, told the Quaker of his special at
traction there indeed, 10 bis simple
ity he even went so far as to confess
that he used frequently to go and sit
on that seat, where he had found him,
to look at the coach (; that he had a
dreamy kind Of pleasure in thinking
that it was going to the place where /