“You do me too much honor, as I have before remarked. Believe me, you have much more reason to thank the bright minds and gentle hearts of the ladies of the ‘Home’ than—
“Three cheers for the ladies!”—someone shouted, and three rousing cheers were given, and then three more, and yet again three.
Owen sees that they are getting excited, and that he will have but little chance to say more, so he determines to end it at once.
“That is all, comrades. With the best of wishes for the future well being of your home, and with the sincerest hopes for the happiness of each of you I bid you good night—as I see it written on many bright, young faces that their restless feet are anxious for the dance to begin.”
Another deafening round of applause follows. They would recall him but Owen will not respond.
The crash of music is then heard, sending forth its inviting strains, and soon the light footsteps trip to the measured chimes and the hours speed in happy merriment.
With such surroundings, such inducements, it will not be difficult to keep the young maidens fresh, healthy and pure-minded, and to keep the young men away from the influence of drink, of vice, of demoralization. No danger that they will unsex themselves through starvation of their sex natures. The needed magnetism is theirs through their constant mingling, and while this is only the beginning, while they have so much yet to learn, there is every hope, every evidence that the home will develop fine, healthy and intelligent women, strong, brave and noble men.
Already Owen has another home planned, to be situated farther out into the open country. “Products of the soil” will furnish the chief employment of this group of workers. Not all men and women prefer the bustling city life. There are many who cannot live and enjoy life away from nature. They would pine for the open air, the green fields, the cool shade of the woods. Only under the blue vault of heaven can happiness come to them. And for such as these also it is the desire of our friends to secure the advantages that only the co-operative home can supply. Owen is determined to show that his millions have not been vainly entrusted to his care, and that the advantages that wealth can procure shall be theirs to whom the wealth justly belongs—the producers.
Here we must leave the inmates of the just completed and dedicated home, on the threshold of their new life, and take one more farewell word to our friends of the “F. L.” home—the children of my fancy, who have grown under my care, and who have become inexpressibly dear to me.