Like to try it! If he could have a little help, he would work himself,

with pick and barrow, and live on a crust. Only give him one more

chance.

And this is how it came about that the cautious old Squire Montague was

drawn into this young fellow's speculation, and began to have his serene

old age disturbed by anxieties and by the hope of a great stroke of luck.

"To be sure, I only care about it for the boy," he said. The Squire was

like everybody else; sooner or later he must "take a chance."

It is probably on account of the lack of enterprise in women that they

are not so fond of stock speculations and mine ventures as men. It is

only when woman becomes demoralized that she takes to any sort of

gambling. Neither Alice nor Ruth were much elated with the prospect of

Philip's renewal of his mining enterprise.

But Philip was exultant. He wrote to Ruth as if his fortune were already

made, and as if the clouds that lowered over the house of Bolton were

already in the deep bosom of a coal mine buried. Towards spring he went

to Philadelphia with his plans all matured for a new campaign. His

enthusiasm was irresistible.

Philip has come, Philip has come," cried the children, as if some great

good had again come into the household; and the refrain even sang itself

The Gilded Age