scheme he has devised as a
source of personal diversion!

"Turning to Gilbert's intellectual, artistic and esthetic life, we
discover that this gifted boy finds the same source of comfort and
amusement in his devotion to the art of music. In this branch of
accomplishments, you, my dear Fern! have had occasion to observe how
important a factor he has become, in organized social life at Solaris.
He is such a general favorite, that without an effort, he has been able
to so impress the strong individuality of his noble character upon the
minds of our farm people, that the effect for good has been truly
wonderful!"

"This is exceedingly interesting, Fillmore! How charmed I am with your
completed story of this marvelously gifted boy! All that you have told
me about Gilbert, only seems to confirm my previous convictions, that he
is really one of the most astonishing products of Solaris farm! No
wonder he is such a general favorite! He has nobly earned the title!
With such intelligence and genius, possessed, embodied and expressed by
its weaker units; is it any cause for wonder, that the success of
Solaris as a co-operative colony, is so pronounced?"

CHAPTER XXX.

OUR HERO AND HEROINE DISCUSS AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

On the day following the festival, we find Fillmore Flagg in the office
of the farm, going over the books of the company with Fern Fenwick. To
most women, such a task would soon prove unbearably monotonous and
tiresome. However, she neither grew restless or inattentive. At all
times on the alert to note each new point of interest; her questions on
every subject indicated a remarkably intelligent conception of the
general plan of the work. Finally, having satisfied herself that she
understood the status of the farm well enough to enable her to propound
her list of queries in the proper order, and in such a manner, as would
most successfully bring to her the information she wished to obtain:
with note-book in hand, she commenced by saying: "Now Fillmore, I am
ready to take up my series of questions about Solaris, which you have
kindly consented to answer. I promise in advance to be good; to try to
refrain from untimely interruptions, by asking a host of irrelevant
questions at inopportune moments!

"First, I wish you would tell me just what is represented by the one
thousand shares of capital stock, of the Solaris Farm Company?"

"The corporation, as you know, is so limited," said Fillmore, "that th