A GILDED AGE

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 3.  
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