CHAPTER XVIII.

LEAKS ALL STOPPED.

MRS. LOVELL was not relieved from her sudden attack till the third day after her seizure, during which time her nephew did not leave her. Mrs. Allen and her daughter were also unwearied in their attentions. Mr. Everett had written two letters home, and was wondering he had not heard in return, when, on taking up a daily paper, he discovered the cause, with what mingled emotions of gratitude, pride, and horror the reader can easily imagine. The item was headed REMARKABLE PRESENCE OF MIND, and proceeded with a tolerably correct statement of facts, with names in full.

"Well done, Lily!" he said aloud, in a tone of exultation, little realizing that her courage and self-possession had been followed by continued swoons, which had completely prostrated her nervous system.

Aunt Mercy was better, however, and urged his immediate return to his family.

Lily's languid frame revived when she saw her husband standing by her bedside, and heard the words of fond praise which overflowed from his full heart.

It was a week, however, before she recovered, and even then the sudden mention of her escape, with which every mouth was filled, caused her to tremble with excitement. One fact connected with the incident I must not forget to mention. During his trial the robber confessed that he had listened to the conversation between husband and wife, and watched his opportunity, while the family were at supper and Maggie waiting on them, to steal to the chamber and conceal himself. But so greatly was he affected by her simple prayer, trusting herself so fully to the care of God, that he resolved, whatever happened, not to injure her. If it had not been for this circumstance, connected with her kindness to him in the kitchen, his plan was to thrust a dagger into her heart as she lay sleeping, and then escape with his booty.

And now, dear reader, in drawing this story to a close, I have only space to tell you in brief that, the leak in Mr. Everett's family being effectually stopped by prudent foresight and economy, he found himself at the end of ten years a rich man, owning ships and sending them to every sea. But, with all his riches, he never again launched into extravagance.

Both he and Lily dreaded the dangers through which they had passed. Much of his time and money was spent in furthering the great benevolent objects of the day; while his lovely wife disbursed her charities on a more limited scale, often making Harry the almoner of her bounty.

Aunt Mercy, after her illness, was persuaded to break up housekeeping and make her home with her nephew, though she furnished a room in Mr. Allen's commodious house, and in the summer made long visits there, usually accompanied by one or both of the children.

Mr. Allen's prediction concerning Robert Carter was fulfilled. Encouragement and judicious praise acts like a charm on some men, and he was one of them. When his friend related the circumstances which would lead to his own removal to his native town, and hinted that he might, if he wished, have the situation of gardener then to be vacant, he listened with a stupid stare of astonishment, while Betsey, with a flushed face, exclaimed,—"It's the first unkind thing I ever knew of you, Mr. Allen, to put thoughts in Robert's mind to unsettle him just as he was getting easy like."

But when the other explained that he had already spoken to Mr. Burrel, who had consented that he should make a trial of his skill,—that he was immediately to leave the fall ploughing and go into the nursery, and that he should have all the advice necessary to get an insight into the business, his face lighted up with pleasure, and he expressed himself with great earnestness.

"It's what I never thought of, and Betsey can testify to the same, but I'll do my best, you may be sure of that; and if there's anything in the world that I own, saving Betsey, that ye'd like, I'll make ye welcome to it with all my heart."

"I didn't tell you all," resumed Mr. Allen, with a smile. "You're to live in the cottage, and Betsey is to go over there every day for a time to learn to make butter and cheese for the great house."

"I daren't undertake it," modestly suggested the wife, blushing like a peony. "I'd neither get leave to eat or sleep with the worry."

But she did undertake it after the necessary apprenticeship, and succeeded so well that Mrs. Burrel, in a letter she wrote Mrs. Allen a few months after their removal, said,—

"I never expected to eat such sweet butter as yours again until I accepted your invitation to visit you. But Betsey has proved so good a scholar that I cannot tell the difference, especially as she uses the same stamps that you did."

Mr. Burrel bought the cottage once so earnestly desired by the Carters for the use of his farmer, but advised his new gardener to leave the hundred dollars in his hands, where it would be earning interest, and make it the beginning of a sum for his old age.

Before she left, Mrs. Allen impressed upon Bobby and the other children the duties that would be expected of them; and I am happy to say their time was so constantly occupied in showing Mr. Burrel that they could work as well as the young Allens that they found no opportunity for mischief.

Early in June following the death of Mr. Fish, Mr. Allen returned to the old homestead, but Mr. Greenough was not ready to vacate the house. His new buildings would not be completed until autumn, and he urged Mrs. Allen to allow his furniture to remain as it was, and take them all to board. This was at last agreed upon, and in July Dr. Greenough with his new wife also joined them, Lizzie's father having offered to give the young couple a start by boarding them for six months. Mrs. Greenough had two excellent servants who remained with Mary, so that she had ample time to revisit the old haunts about the farm, and make criticisms, if she wished, on the improvements.

The cranberry season came on before the new house was ready, and a merry time it proved to be. Day after day the whole family—parents, children, and servants—were out in the meadow, their feet well guarded with india-rubber boots, picking, sorting, and gathering the fruit for market. The yield was enormous, and the profit turned out so great that Mr. Allen resolved before another year came round to have the adjoining piece of meadow drained and set over with plants.

In the winter, Dr. Greenough received a visit from his friend, Horace Storm, who had married a pupil in the asylum with which he was connected, a lady with a large fortune, quite as pretty and fair more fascinating with her signs and demonstrative gestures, than the young miss who formerly lived at his father's.

Matilda Fish, who had been the means, under Providence, of restoring Mr. Allen to his old home, inherited a fortune from her father. Soon after Lizzie went to housekeeping, she consented to take the young girl as a boarder, or rather to assume the care of her education, as her husband had of the fortune.

Mr. Allen, by his sound judgment and his high Christian character, rose high in the estimation of his townsmen. Once more he consented to become a candidate for town offices, but only that he might reform abuses in them, especially in the law relating to license for selling liquor. In the forty-third year of his age, he was the chosen representative to the Legislature of the State, and succeeded so well in securing respect to himself in that office that his townsmen wished to send him again, but he declined, being unwilling to leave his family for so long a period.

As he had promised, he gave his children every advantage which he could afford, though he often told them that the discipline through which they had passed was of more value to them than any book learning.

John Allen succeeded so well in business that he rose to be confidential clerk of the firm,—a position which brought him a good support and great respect. He continued to live with Mr. Everett, where he was regarded as a dear friend. Bell married a son of Mr. Burrel, and returned to G—, while Carrie became a music-teacher in a large school, and was greatly admired for her energy, sweetness of temper, and persevering industry.

And now, dear reader, having shown you how a leak in your fortune may be stopped by prudence, economy, foresight, and industry, I must leave you with the hope that you will so learn to conduct your affairs that there will be no leak in your fortune.