Copyright, 1888, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
TROW’S
PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY,
NEW YORK.

TO THE READER.

I have called this book a satire; yet have sought within that key an overtone of hope and faith. Our early generation of writers could be all optimists: for they wrote of virgin soil. But since their day has passed, our country’s first-fruits were garnered. With these we have to deal.

F. J. S.

Boston, November 6, 1888.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
The Silas Starbuck Oil Company,[ 1]
CHAPTER II.
Flossie Starbuck Aspires,[ 15]
CHAPTER III.
Flossie Starbuck Attains,[ 24]
CHAPTER IV.
Arthur Holyoke’s Dreams,[ 34]
CHAPTER V.
Of Gracie Holyoke And of Her Heart,[ 43]
CHAPTER VI.
The Judge Sums up His Case,[ 52]
CHAPTER VII.
Arthur Sees the World,[ 61]
CHAPTER VIII.
Arthur Sees More of the World,[ 75]
CHAPTER IX.
Arthur Gets on in the World,[ 88]
CHAPTER X.
In Which Arthur Meets a Wearied Soul, [ 98]
CHAPTER XI.
The Story of a Quiet Sunday Evening,[ 112]
CHAPTER XII.
A Communist and His Sister,[ 123]
CHAPTER XIII.
Una and the Lion,[ 137]
CHAPTER XIV.
A Social Success,[ 146]
CHAPTER XV.
The Diversions of Fine Ladies,[ 156]
CHAPTER XVI.
In Maiden Meditation,[ 164]
CHAPTER XVII.
A Cultivator of Thistles,[ 171]
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Day’s Pleasure,[ 190]
CHAPTER XIX.
A Coach and Four Couples,[ 215]
CHAPTER XX.
The Chariot of the Careless Gods,[ 227]
CHAPTER XXI.
Arthur Goes Home,[ 244]
CHAPTER XXII.
A House Built With Hands,[ 259]
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Slaves of the Lamp,[ 273]
CHAPTER XXIV.
Mamie Goes to the Show,[ 298]
CHAPTER XXV.
Kitty Farnum Takes the Prize,[ 308]
CHAPTER XXVI.
Flossie Enjoys Herself,[ 319]
CHAPTER XXVII.
Jem Starbuck Amuses Himself,[ 329]
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Arthur Has a Little Dinner,[ 349]
CHAPTER XXIX.
Captain Derwent Seals His Fate,[ 360]
CHAPTER XXX.
Arthur is Made Happy,[ 370]
CHAPTER XXXI.
A Financier’s Dinner,[ 376]
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Deacon’s Vengeance,[ 384]
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The Duval Ball,[ 395]
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Duval Ball, Concluded,[ 402]
CHAPTER XXXV.
Sortie Du Bal,[ 415]
CHAPTER XXXVI.
The Night at the Works,[ 421]
CHAPTER XXXVII.
The Oldest Member,[ 435]
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The End of the Episode,[ 445]
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Flossie Declines,[ 458]
CHAPTER XL.
The Flowers in the Harvest,[ 466]

FIRST HARVESTS.