CONTENTS
[CHAPTER I.]
Squire Hawkins and His Tennessee Land—He Decides to Remove to Missouri
[CHAPTER II.]
He Meets With and Adopts the Boy Clay
[CHAPTER III]
Uncle Daniel’s Apparition and PrayeR
[CHAPTER IV]
The Steamboat Explosion
[CHAPTER V]
Adoption of the Little Girl Laura—Arrival at Missouri—Reception by Colonel Beriah Sellers
[CHAPTER VI]
Trouble and Darkness in the Hawkins Family—Proposed Sale of the Tennessee Land
[CHAPTER VII]
Colonel Sellers at Home—His Wonderful Clock and Cure for Rheumatism
[CHAPTER VIII]
Colonel Sellers Makes Known His Magnificent Speculation Schemes and Astonishes Washington Hawkins
[CHAPTER IX]
Death of Judge Hawkins
[CHAPTER X]
Laura Hawkins Discovers a Mystery in Her Parentage and Grows Morbid Under the Village Gossip
[CHAPTER XI]
A Dinner with Col Sellers—Wonderful Effects of Raw Turnips
[CHAPTER XII]
Philip Sterling and Henry Brierly—Arrangements to Go West as Engineers
[CHAPTER XIII]
Rail—Road Contractors and Party Traveling—Philip and Harry form the Acquaintance of Col Sellers
[CHAPTER XIV]
Ruth Bolton and Her Parents
[CHAPTER XV]
Visitors of the Boltons—Mr Bigler “Sees the Legislature”—Ruth Bolton Commences Medical Studies
[CHAPTER XVI]
The Engineers Detained at St Louis—Off for Camp—Reception by Jeff
[CHAPTER XVII]
The Engineer Corps Arrive at Stone’s Landing
[CHAPTER XVIII]
Laura and Her Marriage to Colonel Selby—Deserted and Returns to Hawkeye
[CHAPTER XIX]
Harry Brierly Infatuated With Laura and Proposes She Visit Washington
[CHAPTER XX]
Senator Abner Dilwortliy Visits Hawkeye—Addresses the People and Makes the Acquaintance of Laura 186
[CHAPTER XXI]
Ruth Bolton at Fallkill Seminary—The Montagues—Ruth Becomes Quite Gay—Alice Montague
[CHAPTER XXII]
Philip and Harry Visit Fallkill—Harry Does the Agreeable to Ruth
[CHAPTER XXIII]
Harry at Washington Lobbying For An Appropriation For Stone’s Landing —Philip in New York Studying Engineering
[CHAPTER XXIV]
Washington and Its Sights—The Appropriation Bill Reported From the Committee and Passed
[CHAPTER XXV]
Energetic Movements at Stone’s Landing—Everything Booming—A Grand Smash Up
[CHAPTER XXVI]
The Boltons—Ruth at Home—Visitors and Speculations
[CHAPTER XXVII]
Col Sellers Comforts His Wife With His Views on the Prospects
[CHAPTER XXVIII]
Visit to Headquarters in Wall Street—How Appropriations Are Obtained and Their Cost
[CHAPTER XXIX]
Philip’s Experience With the Rail—Road Conductor—Surveys His Mining Property
[CHAPTER XXX]
Laura and Col Sellers Go To Washington On Invitation of Senator Dilworthy
[CHAPTER XXXI]
Philip and Harry at the Boltons’—Philip Seriously Injured—Ruth’s First Case of Surgery
[CHAPTER XXXII]
Laura Becomes a Famous Belle at Washington
[CHAPTER XXXIII]
Society in Washington—The Antiques, the Parvenus, and the Middle Aristocracy
[CHAPTER XXXIV]
Grand Scheme For Disposing of the Tennessee Land—Laura and Washington Hawkins Enjoying the Reputation of Being Millionaires
[CHAPTER XXXV]
About Senators—Their Privileges and Habits
[CHAPTER XXXVI]
An Hour in a Book Store
[CHAPTER XXXVII]
Representative Buckstone and Laura’s Strategic Coquetry
[CHAPTER XXXVIII]
Reception Day in Washington—Laura Again Meets Col. Selby and the Effect Upon Her
[CHAPTER XXXIX]
Col. Selby Visits Laura and Effects a Reconciliation
[CHAPTER XL]
Col. Sellers’ Career in Washington—Laura’s Intimacy With Col. Selby is Talked About
[CHAPTER XLI]
Harry Brierly Becomes Entirely Infatuated With Laura—Declares His Love and Gets Laughed At
[CHAPTER XLII]
How The Hon Mr Trollop Was Induced to Vote For Laura’s Bill
[CHAPTER XLIII]
Progress of the Bill in the House
[CHAPTER XLIV]
Philip in Washington—Visits Laura
[CHAPTER XLV]
The Passage of the Bill in the House of Representatives
[CHAPTER XLVI]
Disappearance of Laura, and Murder of Col. Selby in New York
[CHAPTER XLVII]
Laura in the Tombs and Her Visitors
[CHAPTER XLVIII]
Mr Bolton Says Yes Again—Philip Returns to the Mines
[CHAPTER XLIX]
The Coal Vein Found and Lost Again—Philip and the Boltons—Elated and Then Cruelly Disappointed 443
[CHAPTER L]
Philip Visits Fallkill and Proposes Studying Law With Mr Montague—The Squire Invests in the Mine—Ruth Declares Her Love for Philip
[CHAPTER LI]
Col Sellers Enlightens Washington Hawkins on the Customs of Congress
[CHAPTER LII]
How Senator Dilworthy Advanced Washington’s Interests
[CHAPTER LIII]
Senator Dilworthy Goes West to See About His Re—election—He Becomes a Shining Light
[CHAPTER LIV]
The Trial of Laura for Murder
[CHAPTER LV]
The Trial Continued—Evidence of Harry Brierly
[CHAPTER LVI]
The Trial Continued—Col Sellers on the Stand and Takes Advantage of the Situation
[CHAPTER LVII]
The Momentous Day—Startling News—Dilworthy Denounced as a Briber and Defeated—The Bill Lost in the Senate
[CHAPTER LVIII]
Verdict, Not Guilty !—Laura Free and Receives Propositions to Lecture—Philip back at the Mines
[CHAPTER LIX]
The Investigation of the Dilworthy Bribery Case and Its Results
[CHAPTER LX]
Laura Decides on her Course—Attempts to Lecture and Fails—Found Dead in her Chair
[CHAPTER LXI]
Col Sellers and Washington Hawkins Review the Situation and Leave Washington
[CHAPTER LXII]
Philip Discouraged—One More Effort—Finds Coal at Last
[CHAPTER LXIII]
Philip Leaves Ilium to see Ruth—Ruth Convalescent—Alice
[APPENDIX]
ILLUSTRATIONS
[FRONTPIECE COL. SELLERS FEEDING HIS FAMILY ON EXPECTATIONS]
1. [CONTEMPLATION]
2. [THE SQUIRE’s HOUSE]
S. [THE U. S. MAIL]
4. [OBEDSTOWN MALES]
5. [HURRYING]
6. [THE SQUIRE’S KITCHEN]
7. ["FOR GOODNESS SAKE SI"]
8. [THE LAST COG WHEEL]
9. [GONE UP]
10. [TAIL PIECE]
11. [THE ORPHANS LAST GIFT]
12. [MRS HAWKINS AND CLAY AT THE GRAVE OF HIS MOTHER]
13. ["CHILDREN, DAR’S SUMFIN’ A COMIN]
14. ["HEAH I IS, LORD, HEAH I IS!”]
15. [TAIL PIECE]
16. [NOT ENCOURAGED]
17. [SHE’S GAINING]
18. ["BY THE MARK TWAIN!”]
19. [FAST TOGETHER]
20. [ONE OF THE VICTIMS]
21. [THE PROCESSION—FORWARD MARCH!]
22. [THE HAPPY WIFE]
23. [LAURA]
24. [READY TO SELL]
25. [STOCK RISING]
26. [A FAMILY COUNCIL]
27. [TAIL PIECE]
28. [ATTEMPTED CORNER IN SPECIE]
29. [A BRILLIANT IDEA]
30. [BIG THINGS SHOWN UP]
31. [COL. SELLERS BLOWING BUBBLES FOR WASHINGTON]
32. [GEN BOSWELL’S OFFICE]
33. [TAIL PIECE]
34. [CONSOLATION]
35. [THE DYING FATHER]
36. [TAIL PIECE]
37. [LAURA SEEKING POR EVIDENCES OF HER BIRTH]
38. [EVER TRUE]
39. [A HEALTHY MEAL]
40. [PHILIP AT THE THEATRE]
41. [WHAT PHILIP LEARNED AT COLLEGE]
42. [THE DELEGATE’S INTERESTING GAME]
43. [THE PERSON OF IMPORTANCE]
44. ["NOT THAT"]
45. [RUTH’S MOTHER MAKES ENQUIRIES]
46. [THE LETTER]
47. [CARING FOR THE POOR]
48. [ANATOMICAL INVESTIGATIONS]
49. [RUTH LOOKING AT THE “NEW ONE” BY CANDLE LIGHT]
60. ["ONLY FOR YOU, BRIERLY"]
51. [AN ACCLIMATED MAN]
51. [NO THANKS! GOOD BYE!]
52. ["BRESS YOU, CHILE, YOU DAR NOW"]
53. [CAMP LIFE]
54. [STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER]
55. [JEFF THOMPSON AS A NIGHTINGALE]
56. [BOUND FOR STONE’S LANDING]
57. [STONE’S LANDING]
58. [WAITING FOR A RAILROAD]
59. ["IT AIN’T THERE"]
60. [TAIL PIECE]
61. [CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON]
62. [LAURA SWOONED]
63. [TAILPIECE]
64. [NOT EASILY REFERRED]
65. [ORDER, GENTLEMEN]
66. [THE SENATOR’S WALK]
67. [RESIDENCE OF SQUIRE MONTAGUE]
68. [INSIDE THE MANSION]
69. [RUTH DISSIPATING]
70. [TAIL PIECE]
71. [ANTICIPATION]
72. [REALITY]
73. [PHILIP HEARS HARRY ENTERTAINING RUTH]
74. [AN ENTERTAINING FELLOW]
75. [HARRY EXPLAINS BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE]
76. [PHILIP STUDYING]
77. ["KEEP OUT OF HERE, SIR!”]
78. [AN OLD ONE]
79. [A PROMENADE OUTFIT]
80. [REARED BY A GRATEFUL COUNTRY]
81. [BENEFIT OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE]
82. [TAIL PIECE]
83. [VISIONS OF A HAPPY MAN]
84. [EXODUS OF THE NATIVES]
85. [HARRY BRIERLY FLIES FROM THE MOB]
86. [ENJOYING THE BONFIRE]
87. [BROTHER PLUM]
88. [RUTH AT HOME]
89. [MAP OF THE SALT LICK BRANCH OF THE PACIFIC R. R.]
90. [RESULT OF A STRAIGHT LINE]
91. [AT HEADQUARTERS]
92. [TOUCHING A WEAK SPOT]
93. [CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE, $10,000],
94. [MALE LOBBYIST, $3,000] 255
95. [FEMALE LOBBYIST, $3,000]
96. [HIGH MORAL SENATOR, $3,000]
97. [COUNTRY MEMBER, $500]
98. [DOCUMENTARY PROOF]
99. [COLONEL SELLERS DESPONDENT]
100. [TAIL PIECE]
101. [THE MONARCH OF ALL HE SURVEYS]
102. [PHILIP THRUST FROM THE R. R. CAR]
103. [THE JUSTICE]
104. ["MINE INN"]
105. [A PLEASING LANDLORD]
106. [PHILIP HIRED THREE WOODSMEN]
107. [TAIL PIECE]
108. [TAIL PIECE]
109. [BRO. BALAAM]
110. [THE FIRE PANIC]
111. [RUTH ASSISTS IN DRESSING PHILIP’S ARM]
112. [THE FIRST RECEPTION]
113. [VANITY COLLAPSED]
114. [THE ATTACHES OF THE ANTIQUES]
115. [HON. OLIVER HIGGINS]
116. [PAT O’RILEY AND THE “OULD WOMAN"]
117. [HON. P. OREILLE AND LADY]
118. [AN UNMISTAKABLE POTATO MOUTH]
119. [THE THREE PATIENTS]
120. [TAIL PIECE]
121. [DELIBERATE PERSECUTION]
122. ["IT IS ONLY ME"]
123. ["ALL CONGRESSMEN DO THAT"]
124. [A TRICK WORTH KNOWING]
125. [COL. SELLERS ENLIGHTENING THE BOHEMIANS]
126. [LAURA IN THE BOOK STORE]
127. [VERY AGREEABLE]
128. [PLAYING TO WIN]
129. [SHE SAID “PARDON"]
130. ["IT’S HE! IT’S HE!”]
131. [REFLECTION]
132. [ONCE MORE FACE TO FACE]
133. [COL. SELBY KNEELS AND KISSES HER HAND]
134. [JOLLY GOOD COMPANY]
135. [SUPPER OR BREAKFAST?]
136. [TAIL PIECE]
137. [A LADY-KILLER TAMED]
138. [CONSUMING LOVE]
139. [A CONVERT TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS]
140. [OPENING NEGOTIATIONS]
141. [NOT JUST YET]
142. [WELL POSTED]
143. [MR. TROLLOP THINKS IT OVER]
144. [DILWORTHY GIVES LAURA HIS BLESSING]
145. [UNNECESSARY PRECAUTION]
146. [WHERE THE PROTECTION IS NEEDED]
147. [AN OBJECT OF SYMPATHY]
148. [CHILDREN OF HOPE]
149. [THE EDITOR]
150. [PHILIP LEAVING LAURA]
151. [CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE]
152. [THE HOUSE]
153. [COL SELLERS ASLEEP IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES]
154. [A HEARTY SHAKE]
155. [SENATOR DILWORTHY TRANQUIL]
156. ["SHE AIN’T DAH, SAR"]
157. [AS THE WITNESSES DESCRIBED IT]
158. [THE LEARNED DOCTORS]
159. [IMPORTANT BUSINESS]
160. [COL. SELLERS AND WASHINGTON IN LAURA’S CELL]
161. [PROMISED PATRONAGE]
162. [NO LOVE LIKE A MOTHER’S]
163. [CLEANED OUT BUT NOT CRUSHED]
164. [THE LANDLORD TAKING LESSONS]
165. [TAILPIECE]
166. ["WE’VE STRUCK IT"]
167. [THE MINE AT ILIUM]
168. [THE HERMIT]
169. [TAIL PIECE]
110. [ONE CHANCE OPEN]
171. [WHAT HE EXPECTED TO BE]
172. [ALAS! POOR ALICE]
173. [HOW HE WAS DRAWN IN]
174. [EVERYTHING]
175. [TAIL PIECE]
176. ["COME NOW, LETS CHEER UP"]
177. [A SHINING EXAMPLE]
178. [THE SEWING SOCIETY DODGE]
179. [DILWORTHY ADDRESSES A SUNDAY SCHOOL]
180. [TAIL PIECE]
181. [THE JUDGE]
182. [LAURA ON TRIAL]
183. [MICHAEL LANIGAN]
184. [PATRICK COUGHLIN]
185. [ETHAN DOBB]
186. [MR HICKS]
187. [SEARCH FOR A FATHER]
158. [TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A LULL]
189. [TERM EXPIRED]
190. [RE-ELECTED]
191. [THE “FAITHFUL OLD HAND"]
192. [A FIRE BRAND]
193. [TAIL PIECE]
194. [COL. SELLERS AND WASHINGTON RETURN HOME AFTER THE VOTE]
195. [A COURT-IN SCENE]
196. [POPULAR ENDORSEMENT]
197. [ONE OF THE INSULTED MEMBERS]
195. [TOUCHED BY THE SIRUGGLES OF THE POOR]
199. [MR NOBLE ASKS QUESTIONS]
200. [THE WORN OUT STYLE OF SENATOR]
201. [THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE]
202. [THE LAST LINK BROKEN]
203. [THE TERRIBLE ORDEAL]
204. [RETROSPECTION]
205. [GOOD-BYE TO WASHINGTON]
206. [TAIL PIECE]
207. [THE PARTING BLAST OFFERED]
208. [THE LAST BLAST]
209. [STRUCK IT AT LAST]
210. [THE RICH PROPRIETOR]
211. [THE SICK CHAMBER]
212. [ALICE]
CHAPTER I.
June 18—. Squire Hawkins sat upon the pyramid of large blocks, called the “stile,” in front of his house, contemplating the morning.