most
careful examination into the affairs of the Elmer Mill and Ferry
Company, he was able to report most favorably as to its present
condition. He found that they owned valuable mill buildings and
machinery, and had contracted for a first-class ferry-boat, which was
to be built immediately, and which had been paid for in advance. He
also found that the two salaried officers of the company, the
superintendent of mills and the superintendent of ferries, had been
paid one year's salary in advance.

In spite of these great outlays, he was informed by the treasurer that
a cash balance of three hundred dollars remained in the treasury, and
he congratulated the stockholders of the company upon its healthy and
flourishing condition. This address was received with loud and
prolonged applause.

Before the meeting adjourned it was decided that the election of
officers should be held annually, and that the Board of Directors
should meet once a month.

A meeting of this Board was held immediately upon the adjournment of
the meeting of stockholders, and the general manager was instructed to
purchase saw-mill machinery, and to begin the rebuilding of the dam at
once.

"Well, Ruth," said Mark, after all this business had been transacted,
"now we ARE property owners sure enough. That newspaper was about right
after all."

After the others had gone to bed, Mr. Elmer and Mr. March talked for
some time together, and this conversation resulted in the latter
agreeing to move to Wakulla, and build a small house for himself and
Frank on Mr. Elmer's land. He told Mr. Elmer that meeting him and his
family had given him new ideas of life, and aroused a desire for better
things both for himself and his son.

The Sunday-school was well attended the next Sunday; and as Mr. Elmer
had brought a package of song-books with him from Tallahassee, the
scholars learned to sing several of the songs, and seemed to enjoy them
very much.

Monday was a rainy day, but as a rough shed had been built to serve as
a temporary workshop, the ferry-boat was begun. On it Mr. March laid
out enough work to keep all hands busy except Frank, who was still
confined to the house.

The rain fell steadily all that week, until the Elmers no longer
wondered that bridges and dams were swept away in that country, and
Mark said that if it did not stop pretty soon they would have to build
an ark instead of a ferry-boat.

As a result of the rainy week, the boat was fini