And he was in this, as in all things, as good as his word.  It needed only a favorable intimation from him to decide the company to place their works in the hands of Squire Floyd, who was a man of skill and experience in manufacturing, and one in whose integrity the fullest confidence might be reposed.

A month has passed; and Squire Floyd, engaged at a salary of two thousand dollars a year, is again at the mills, busy in superintending repairs, improvements, and additions.  A few more weeks, and the rattle of industry will commence, and the old aspect of things show itself in S——.  May the new mill owners be wiser than their predecessors!

Squire Floyd has removed from the poor tenement lately the home of his depressed family, and is back in the pleasant homestead he abandoned years ago, when pride and ambition impelled him to put on a grander exterior.  It is understood that the company have bought the house, and rent it to him at a very moderate price.  My own impression is, that Mr. Wallingford has more to do in the matter than people imagine.  I am strengthened in this view, from the fact of having seen Mrs. Wallingford call at the Squire’s twice during the past week.  They are in good hands, and I see a better future in store for them.

And now, reader, you have the story I wished to tell.  It is full of suggestion to all who are starting forth upon life’s perilous journey.  Let truth, honor, integrity, and humanity, govern all your actions.  Do not make haste to be rich, lest you fall into divers temptations.  Keep always close to the right; and always bear in mind that no wrong is ever done that does not, sooner or later, return upon the wrong-doer.

And above all, gentle maiden, be not dazzled by the condition or prospect of any who seek your hand.

Look away, down, deeply into the character, disposition, and quality; and if these are not of good seeming, shun the proffered alliance as you would death.  Better, a thousand times, pass through life alone than wed yourself to inevitable misery.  So heeding the moralist, you will not, in the harvest time which comes to all, look in despair over your barren fields, but find them golden with Autumn’s treasures, that shall fill your granaries and crown your latter days with blessing.

The End.  The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Allen House, or Twenty Years Ago and Now by T. S. Arthur ******This file should be named tahty10.txt or tahty10.zip******

Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, tahty11.txt VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, tahty10a.txt

This etext was created by Charles Aldarondo (Aldarondo@yahoo.com)

***

More information about this book is at the top of this file.

We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing.  Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, even years after the official publication date.