Further Adventures of Quincy Adams Sawyer and Mason Corner Folks   By: Charles Felton Pidgin (1844-1923)

THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER AND MASON'S CORNER FOLKS

A Novel By Charles Felton Pidgin Author of "Quincy Adams Sawyer," "Blennerhassett," "Stephen Holton," etc.

Illustrated by Henry Roth [Illustration]

1909

To My Daughter Dora

Preface

Eight years ago, "Quincy Adams Sawyer and Mason's Corner Folks" was published, being heralded, truthfully, as the work of an "unknown author." It met with favour from reviewers and the reading public. My pleasantest souvenirs are hundreds of letters, from personally unknown correspondents, wishing to know more about "Quincy" and the other characters in my first story.

I know that few, if any, "sequels" are considered as interesting as the original work, and an author, to a certain extent, tempts fate in writing one. But if we visit friends and have a pleasant time there seems to be no reason why another invitation should not be accepted. So, if a book pleases its readers, and the characters therein become their friends, why should not these readers be invited to renew their acquaintance?

They may not enjoy themselves as much as at their first visit, but that is the unavoidable result of repetition. The human mind craves novelty, and, perhaps, the reader will find it, after all, within these pages.

C. F. P.

WIDEVIEW FARM, BELMONT, MASS. August, 1908.

CONTENTS

PREFACE

I. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH II. A DAY WITH THE GOVERNOR III. A VACATION AT FERNBOROUGH IV. THE HAWKINS HOUSE V. 'ZEKE PETTINGILL'S FARM VI. "JUST LIKE OLD TIMES" VII. STROUT AND MAXWELL'S GROCERY VIII. UNCLE IKE AND OTHERS IX. A "STORY" SERMON X. THE RAISED CHECK XL. THE WRECK OF THE ALTONIA XII. FERNBOROUGH HALL XIII. "HORNABY HOOK" XIV. AN AMERICAN HEIRESS XV. AN ELOPEMENT XVI. YOUNG QUINCY XVII. HIS FATHER'S FRIENDS XVIII. AN OLD STRIFE RENEWED XIX. BOYHOOD TO MANHOOD XX. MARY DANA XXI. AT HARVARD XXII. ALICE'S DREAM XXIII. "BY THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE DANUBE" XXIV. "WE THREE" XXV. A PERIOD OF TWENTY THREE YEARS XXVI. "CATESSA" XXVII. O. STROUT. FINE GROCIERIES XXVIII. THE HOME COMING XXIX. THE FINAL CONFLICT XXX. TOM, JACK AND NED XXXI. THE GREAT ISBURN RUBY XXXII. "IT WAS SO SUDDEN"

The Further Adventures of Quincy Adams Sawyer and Mason's Corner Folks

CHAPTER I

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH

When the applause had subsided, Governor Sawyer began to speak.

"My Friends and Fellow Citizens: When I stood before the representatives chosen by the people, and an audience composed of the most eminent men and women in the State, and took the oath to support the constitution of my native State and that of my country, my heart was filled with what I deemed an honest pride. My fellow citizens had chosen me to fill the most exalted position in their power to bestow, and when the Secretary of the Commonwealth uttered the well known words which your toastmaster has just repeated God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts I felt in every fibre of my body that I would be true to my oath and to the people who had shown their confidence in me.

"But the satisfaction I felt on that occasion was no greater than that which I experience to night. I came among you entirely unknown. I have heard that some wondered whether I was a city swell, what my business was, what led me to choose your town for a vacation, and how long that vacation was to be, especially as I came in the winter when country life is popularly, but erroneously, supposed to be dull.

"By some I was welcomed, others I don't blame them refused to extend to me the hand of fellowship. But, I liked some of your people so well and one in particular" all eyes were turned towards his wife, who bore the scrutiny bravely "that I determined to stay and I did."