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 realised
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
recognise 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 ain’t 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, ain’t 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! Ain’t 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 ain’t 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
ain’t 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 favour.”
“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 stepfather 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 honour of his two companions in Australia.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.
Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.