was allowed to make her home, rent free, in Mrs. Burke’s old house, Andy having built a better and more commodious one, in which he had installed his mother as mistress.  Mrs. Preston grew old fast, in appearance, and fretted without ceasing for the fortune and position which she had lost.  Her husband left her, and has not since been heard of.  As for Godfrey, Andy secured him a passage to California, where he led a disreputable life.  There is a rumor that he was killed in a drunken brawl at Sacramento not long since, but I have not been able to learn whether this is true or not.  His loss of fortune had something to do with his going to the bad, but I am afraid, with his character and tendencies, that neither in prosperity nor in adversity would he have built up a good character, or led an honorable career.  His course had been, in all respects, far different from that of our hero, who, already prosperous, seems likely to go on adding to his wealth, and growing in the esteem of the best portion of the community.  His success, aided, indeed, by good fortune, has served to demonstrate the favorable effects of honesty, industry, and good principles, upon individual success.  He is not the first, nor will he be the last, to achieve prosperity and the respect of the community, though beginning life as “only an Irish boy.”

THE END

Transcriber’s comments: 

Spelling has been left as in the original book.  Specifically, the dialect and typographical errors have been left unchanged.