Chapter XX: Epilogue

And now, so many _Evenings_ past,
Our _Budget_’s fairly out at last;
Exhausted all its various store,
Nor like to be replenished more.
Then, youthful friends, farewell! my heart
Shall speak a blessing as we part.
May Wisdom’s seeds in every mind
Fit soil and careful culture find;
Each generous plant with vigour shoot.
And kindly ripen into fruit!
Hope of the world, the _rising race_
May Heaven with fostering love embrace,
And turning to a whiter page,
Commence with them a _better age_!
An age of light and joy, which we,
Alas! in promise only see.

J. A.

THE END

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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

1. Corrected and to any on p. 216. 2. Corrected beating to heating on p. 223. 3. Corrected my to by on p. 237. 4. Added missing word I on p. 241. 5. Corrected and to an on p. 308. 6. Corrected “a ways” to “always” on p. 346. 7. Removed unnecessary word “a” on p. 348. 8. Silently corrected typographical errors. 9. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. 10. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.