Middletown transcript., 1891-05-07
AMOS DYKES FORTUNE.

some sixty years ago, before
= express trains tore along a
the rate Of fifty miles an hour be-
fore chimney-pot hats were in fashion
and when there were many quaint olt
ways and customs in dress and man
ners which have now faded quite
away.
And the hero of our tale shall be
Amos Dyke, the son of the Hollingtou
carrier.
Old Peter Dyke, the Hollington
carrier, lived in little side place of
the main street of the town, and com
menced life with only a few shillings
in his pocket. By honest industry he
had accumulated enough to establish
good business, aud at last he be-
came the Hollington carrier.
Old Peter died leaving 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 proper
ty and who so fit as the miller,
Crust, to undertake the task? Crust
was nothing loath he promised to de-
fend 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 arrangement
made between the miller and the old
man, che proceeds were all invested in
the mill-a lourishing concern-and
one out of which all the neighbors
said a 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 oflife all the
country round.
The miller did not neglect his
young charges education. He gave
him the 1ery best the neighborhood
afforded, and acted honorably by him
in every way.
Thus grew up Amos Dyke to man
hood, and side by side with him grew
Mary Crust. And often, if the truth
were known the worthy miller looked
with satisfaction upon them, as they
sat on each side of his table, and
thought that perhaps some day, when
he was gone, Amos and Mary. would
be at their places at the head and foot
Of the table, and perhaps the mill will
be more hourishing than ever.
There was one drawback to this
agreeable 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 be should
have been attending what he was at,
he was building castles in the air in
stead.
Time passed on, as it will always
keep doing, and Amos was now 20.
and Mary was 18-and in another
year, on New Years Day. Amos
would be Of age, and would come in
for his share of the mill. He hoped
also to come 10 for his share of Mary.
But alas /! There was a heavy
cloud hanging over the Hollington
mill. The worthy miller entered into
a large-to large contract to supply
-four 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 well /; but the
contract proved his ruin. One dread
full morning the post brought him the
announcement that he was bank
and Amos, and Maryland
all Of them undone.
Honest John Crust could have
borne his own losses well enough if he
had no one else to think of but him
self. 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. Ah.l the
g others these are what make life's
trials and losses SO hard to bear. To
see them Want--to see them pinched !.
this soon doubles trials and losses.
Z And tbe weight Of it proved too
much for honest John; the trouble
struck him with a deadly chill, and he
did not survive long.
Amos tended the miller along with
Mary, during his short illness !: and as
the time drew near when ID was plain
that the good man could not last long,
he gave them both bis last directions.
Amos, : said the dying man, :" il
this trouble had not come you would
sooner or later have had asl the Hol-
lington mill-your own share and
mine too for Mary i alk | have in
the world, and she would have been
yours, and with her whatever | had !;
but now it Is oil done, But whatever
has gouepus good name has not; and,
believe me. Ssx name is worth
IT'S worth Maet and honor
and trust, which are better than
money, but these often bring money
too. IT'S an awful thing when par
ents leave their children bad name /;
my poor school fellow Bence Porter
nsed to say that it took him seven
years to wipe off his fathers name
from him-sye-seven years hard
work had he, as an honest man. be-
fore anyone for miles around would
trust him with shilling, though he