Chapter 39
CONCLUSION.
When Harry had completed his business in New York, he took the train at once to his native village. His arrival made quite a sensation. Not only Mr. Howard, his father's friend, received him with joy, but there were many other friends besides who rejoiced in his good fortune.
"You have been very fortunate, Harry," said Mr. Howard. "You tell me that you have about five thousand dollars?"
"Yes, sir, and it makes me feel rich."
"Besides the two thousand dollars I have in charge for you."
"Two thousand dollars!" ejaculated Harry in amazement. "You mean three hundred, Mr. Howard."
"No, I mean what I say," replied his friend, with a smile.
"But I don't understand----"
"Don't you remember the fifty shares of mining stock you placed in my hands?"
"Yes, they were given me by my father. I thought them worthless."
"A month ago I learned the contrary. I took the liberty, without consulting you, as you were absent, to sell them. They realized seventeen hundred dollars net, thus carrying up the amount in my hands to two thousand dollars."
"Is it possible that I am worth seven thousand dollars? It seems wonderful!"
"But the best of it is that it is true. Then was there not a sum of money which you received for saving a railroad train?"
"Yes, I have used part of it, but one hundred and fifty dollars remain. It is in the hands of a Mr. Conway, president of the road."
"Then it appears to me, Harry, taken in connection with your offer of employment in New York, you are in a very enviable position. How old are you?"
"I shall soon be seventeen."
"Then you are beginning the world young. Continue to deserve good fortune, and you are likely to prosper."
Before returning to New York Harry felt inclined to visit his would-be guardian, John Fox, whose treatment of him has been recorded at length in "Facing the World."
He took the train, as before, to Bolton, and thence went by stage to Colebrook. He walked to the Fox mansion, and going up to the front door knocked.
The door was opened by Mrs. Fox herself. She did not immediately recognize Harry in his handsome suit, with a gold chain crossing his vest, attached, it may be added, to a handsome gold watch, which he had bought in New York.
"What is your business, young man?" she asked.
"Don't you remember me, Mrs. Fox?" asked Harry.
"Land's sake! It aint Harry Vane!" she exclaimed in wonder.
"Yes, it is," answered Harry, smiling. "I hope Mr. Fox and Joel are well."
"Come in, and I'll call Joel. You've been doing well, aint you?" she asked, surveying him with eager curiosity.
"I have been very fortunate indeed."
"I thought you was drowned--wrecked on a ship or something."
"If I was, I have come to life again."
"Well, well, it's strange. I'll call Joel."
Joel, who was at the barn, soon entered.
He, too, surveyed Harry curiously.
"How d'y' do?" he said. "I never expected to set eyes on you again. Is that a gold watch you have?"
"Yes, Joel."
"Let me see it. How much did it cost?"
"A hundred dollars, besides the chain."
"Gosh! Aint that a sight of money! Did you spend all your money on it?"
"No, I bought a chain too."
"To my mind you was very foolish to spend all your hard earnin's that way! There's no fool like a young fool," said Mrs. Fox severely.
"But, Mrs. Fox, I have some money left."
"How much?" asked Joel eagerly.
"Seven thousand dollars."
"Gosh all Jerusalem! you aint yarnin', be you? Seven thousand dollars!"
"Who's talkin' of seven thousand dollars?" asked a familiar voice, as Mr. Fox entered the room.
"Harry Vane says he's worth seven thousand dollars!" exclaimed Joel in a tone made up of amazement, jealousy, and wonder.
"Is that true?" asked John Fox in equal amazement.
"Yes, Mr. Fox."
"But how on 'arth----"
Then Harry gave a full explanation, with which I don't propose to trouble the reader, as it would be a twice-told tale.
"Some folks seem born to luck!" said Mr. Fox furiously, when Harry had completed his story. "Joel may work and toil all his life, and he won't get no seven thousand dollars. It seems hard!"
John Fox had been much impressed by Harry's luck, and his avaricious soul was busying itself with some scheme for turning it to his personal advantage.
"I'm glad you've been so lucky, Harry," he said with affected cordiality. "It beats all, I must say. I've no doubt you are ready now to carry out your dear father's dyin' wish."
"What was that, Mr. Fox?"
"He wanted me to be your guardeen. It stands to reason a boy of sixteen aint to be trusted with so much money. Now I'm an experienced man of business, and I'm willin' to be your guardeen, and I won't charge you a cent for takin' care of your property except board money."
"Thank you, Mr. Fox," said Harry, with an amused smile, "but I am offered a place in New York at fifteen dollars a week, and I have friends who will advise me about the investment of my money."
"Fifteen dollars a week!" repeated Mr. Fox dolefully. "Can't you get a place for Joel in the same store?"
"If I can find Joel a satisfactory place in the city I will do so," said Harry, "but I ought to say that my employer only pays me high wages out of favor."
"I'll take ten," said Joel eagerly. "You know you and me was always friends, Harry."
"Joel always liked you," said politic Mr. Fox.
Harry knew better, but he was on good terms with the world, and he did not dispute this statement.
"I'll do what I can," he said. "Meanwhile, Mr. Fox, I should like to make Joel and his sister a small present."
He gave them each a ten-dollar bill, which made Joel's eyes sparkle with joy.
Mr. Fox renewed his suggestion that Harry select him as a "guardeen," but Harry politely but firmly declined to entertain the proposal. Nevertheless, when he left the house, he was warmly urged to come again and often. He understood the reason of the cordiality, and knew very well that if he had come back poor his reception would have been very different.
Before going back to New York he made a visit of a couple of days to his old friend and employer, Professor Hemmenway, the prestidigitateur, who was delighted with the success of his young friend. He offered Harry a new engagement, but of course it was declined.
In New York he met Jack, and inquired how he had fared.
"I found my step-father dying," answered Jack. "In fact he drank himself to death after wasting all mother's property. But I have bought her a small house, and insured her an income sufficient to keep her comfortable. The last will require some of my principal, but I shall be earning good wages, and can make it up when I return home."
"When do you sail, Jack?"
"Next week, on one of Mr. Woolson's ships. I am to go to China."
"I hope you'll steer clear of the island we were wrecked on, Jack."
"I never want to see it again, Harry; still it brought us luck."
"I shall be sorry to part with you, Jack. I wish you could be content to stay in New York."
"No, Harry, I can't give up the sea yet. It is my great ambition to command a ship myself some time."
"I think you will accomplish it, Jack, for you stand well with the owners."
Five years have passed. Harry and Jack are each twenty-one. Harry occupies a confidential position with the firm, and is likely to be a partner before he is much older. Jack is first mate, and will be a captain before he is twenty-five. His mother is living, and happy in his success, and enjoying the comfortable home he has provided for her.
Harry obtained a position for Joel in the city, but he proved unsatisfactory to his employer and was soon discharged. Another situation he held as brief a time. At last he was obliged to go home and assist his father, who treats him almost as penuriously as he would have done Harry. Joel is dissatisfied and unhappy, and his mother thinks he was born to bad luck, but those who know Joel think his want of success springs from a different source. Harry and Jack obtained success because they deserved it. If Joel were more like them he too might succeed. And I am sorry to say he is looking forward impatiently to the time when he shall inherit his father's property. It is very wrong, but perhaps Mr. Fox himself is partly to blame.
Whenever Jack comes home from a voyage he calls upon Harry, and together they talk over their adventures in a New World. Sometimes Obed Stackpole calls also. He has two boys, whom he has named respectively Harry and Jack in honor of his two companions in Australia.
THE END.
THE
FAMOUS
CASTLEMON
BOOKS.
BY
HARRY
CASTLEMON.
Illustration: Specimen Cover of the Gunboat Series.
No author of the present day has become a greater favorite with boys than "Harry Castlemon;" every book by him is sure to meet with hearty reception by young readers generally. His naturalness and vivacity lead his readers from page to page with breathless interest, and when one volume is finished the fascinated reader, like Oliver Twist, asks "for more."
** Any volume sold separately.
GUNBOAT SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 6 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7 50 Frank, the Young Naturalist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Frank in the Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Frank on the Prairie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Frank on a Gunboat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Frank before Vicksburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Frank on the Lower Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
GO AHEAD SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3 75 Go Ahead; or, The Fisher Boy's Motto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 No Moss; or, The Career of a Rolling Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Tom Newcombe; or, The Boy of Bad Habits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . .$3 75 Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Frank among the Rancheros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Frank in the Mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . .$3 75 The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Sportsman's Club Afloat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Sportsman's Club among the Trappers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
FRANK NELSON SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols. 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . .$3 75 Snowed Up; or, The Sportsman's Club in the Mts . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Frank Nelson in the Forecastle; or, The Sportsman's Club among the Whalers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Boy Traders; or, The Sportsman's Club among the Boers . . . . . 1 25
BOY TRAPPER SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . .$3 75 The Buried Treasure; or, Old Jordan's "Haunt" . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Boy Trapper; or, How Dave Filled the Order . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Mail Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
ROUGHING IT SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . .$3 75 George in Camp; or, Life on the Plains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 George at the "Wheel; or, Life in a Pilot House . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 George at the Fort; or, Life Among the Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
ROD AND GUN SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . .$3 75 Don Gordon's Shooting Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Rod and Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Young Wild Fowlers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
FOREST AND STREAM SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . .$3 75 Joe Wayring at Home; or, Story of a Fly Rod . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Snagged and Sunk; or, The Adventures of a Canvas Canoe . . . . . . . 1 25 Steel Horse; or, The Rambles of a Bicycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
WAR SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5 00 True to his Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Rodney, the Partisan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Marcy, the Blockade Runner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Marcy, the Refugee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
OUR FELLOWS; or, Skirmishes with the Swamp Dragoons. By Harry Castlemon. 16mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
ALGER'S
RENOWNED
BOOKS.
BY
HORATIO
ALGER, JR.
Illustration: Specimen Cover of the Ragged Dick Series.
Horatio Alger, Jr., has attained distinction as one of the most popular of books for boys, and the following list comprises all of his best books.
*** Any volume sold separately.
RAGGED DICK SERIES. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 6 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . .$7 50 Ragged Dick; or, Street Life in New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Fame and Fortune; or, The Progress of Richard Hunter . . . . . . . . 1 25 Mark, the Match Boy; or, Richard Hunter's Ward . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Rough and Ready; or, Life among the New York Newsboys . . . . . . . 1 25 Ben, the Luggage Boy; or, Among the Wharves . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Bufus and Rose; or, the Fortunes of Rough and Ready . . . . . . . . 1 25
TATTERED TOM SERIES. (FIRST SERIES.) By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . .$5 00 Tattered Tom; or, The Story of a Street Arab . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Paul, the Peddler; or, The Adventures of a Young Street Merchant . . 1 25 Phil, the Fiddler; or, The Young Street Musician . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Slow and Sure; or, From the Sidewalk to the Shop . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
TATTERED TOM SERIES. (SECOND SERIES.) 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5 00 Julius; or the Street Boy Out West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Young Outlaw; or, Adrift in the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Sam's Chance and How He Improved it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Telegraph Boy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. (FIRST SERIES.) By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . .$5 00 Luck and Pluck; or John Oakley's Inheritance . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Sink or Swim; or, Harry Raymond's Resolve . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Strong and Steady; or, Paddle Your Own Canoe . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Strive and Succeed; or, The Progress of Walter Conrad . . . . . . . 1 25
LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES. (SECOND SERIES.) By Horatio Alger, Jr. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . .$5 00 Try and Trust; or, The Story of a Bound Boy . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Bound to Rise; or Harry Walton's Motto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Risen from the Ranks; or, Harry Walton's Success . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Herbert Carter's Legacy; or, The Inventor's Son . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
CAMPAIGN SERIES. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3 75 Prank's Campaign; or, The Farm and the Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Paul Prescott's Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Charlie Codman's Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . .$5 00 Brave and Bold; or, The Story of a Factory Boy . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Jack's Ward; or, The Boy Guardian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Shifting for Himself; or, Gilbert Greyson's Fortunes . . . . . . . . 1 25 Wait and Hope; or, Ben Bradford's Motto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 35
PACIFIC SERIES By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 vols. 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5 00 The Young Adventurer; or, Tom's Trip Across the Plains . . . . . . . 1 25 The Young Miner; or, Tom Nelson in California . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Young Explorer; or, Among the Sierras . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Ben's Nugget; or, A Boy's Search for Fortune. A Story of the Pacific Coast 1 25
ATLANTIC SERIES. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5 00 The Young Circus Rider; or, The Mystery of Robert Rudd . . . . . . . 1 25 Do and Dare; or, A Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Hector's Inheritance; or, Boys of Smith Institute . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Helping Himself; or, Grant Thornton's Ambition . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
WAY TO SUCCESS SERIES. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 4 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . .$5 00 Bob Burton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Store Boy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Luke Walton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Struggling Upward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
NEW BOOK BY ALGER.
DIGGING FOR GOLD. By Horatio Alger, Jr. Illustrated 12mo. Cloth, black, red and gold . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
A
New Series
of Books.
Indian Life
and
Character
Founded on
Historical
Facts.
Illustration: Specimen Cover of the Wyoming Series.
By Edward S. Ellis.
*** Any volume sold separately.
BOY PIONEER SERIES. By Edward S. Ellis. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . .$3 75 Ned in the Block House; or, Life on the Frontier . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Ned in the "Woods. A Tale of the Early Days in the West . . . . . . 1 25 Ned on the River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
DEERFOOT SERIES. By Edward S. Ellis. In box containing the following. 3 vols., 12mo. Illustrated . . . .$3 75 Hunters of the Ozark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Camp in the Mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 The Last "War Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
LOG CABIN SERIES. By Edward S. Ellis. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3 75 Lost Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1 25 Camp-Fire and Wigwam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Footprints in the Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
WYOMING SERIES. By Edward S. Ellis. 3 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3 75 Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Storm Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Cabin in the Clearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
NEW BOOKS BY EDWARD S. ELLIS.
Through Forest and Fire. 12mo. Cloth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 On the Trail of the Moose. 12mo. Cloth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
By C. A. Stephens.
Rare books for boys--bright, breezy, wholesome and instructive; full of adventure and incident, and information upon natural history. They blend instruction with amusement--contain much useful and valuable information upon the habits of animals, and plenty of adventure, fun and jollity.
CAMPING OUT SERIES. By C. A. Stephens. 6 vols., 12mo. Fully illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7 50 Camping Out. As recorded by "Kit" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Left on Labrador; or The Cruise of the Schooner Yacht "Curfew." As recorded by "Wash" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Off to the Geysers; or, The Young Yachters in Iceland. As recorded by "Wade" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 Lynx Hunting. From Notes by the author of "Camping Out" . . . . . . 1 25 Fox Hunting. As recorded by "Raed" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25 On the Amazon; or, The Cruise of the "Rambler." As recorded by "Wash" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 25
By J. T. Trowbridge.
These stories will rank among the best of Mr. Trowbridge's books for the young and he has written some of the best of our juvenile literature.
JACK HAZARD SERIES. By J. T. Trowbridge. 6 vols., 12mo. Fully Illustrated. Cloth, extra, printed in colors. In box $7 50