Chapter I: Front Matter

NINETEEN HUNDRED?
_A FORECAST AND A STORY._

BY

MARIANNE FARNINGHAM,

_Author of “The Cathedral Shadow,” “The Clarence Family,” “Songs of
Sunshine,” &c., &c._

London:
JAMES CLARKE & CO., 13 & 14, FLEET STREET.
1892.

This little dream, of what, I hope, may be in the near future, was dreamed several years ago, and much of it written on paper, the rest having to wait for strength and opportunity. But, meanwhile, the spirit of progressive love has not had to wait, and already part of my dream has come true, for the genius of “applied Christianity” is at work, doing what I only saw in a vision. I take this fact as an earnest that the other good things will follow. But they will not unless it is realised that the hope of England is in her young. And I affectionately dedicate this forecast-story to all father-hearted men and mother-hearted women who see in every child a treasure of priceless value, a force of mightiest possibilities, to be redeemed for Christ _at any cost_.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE
I.— Old England for Ever 1
II.— A Sunday in the Country 8
III.— A Sunday in London 16
IV.— Cousin Tom 25
V.— The Duty that is Nearest 33
VI.— Arthur Knight’s Inheritance 45
VII.— Mary Wythburn’s Wedding 53
VIII.— Some Signs of the Times 63
IX.— In the Autumn 72
X.— In Paradise 84
XI.— Our Parish 95
XII.— A New Order 106
XIII.— The Course of True Love 117
XIV.— Defeat, or Victory? 127
XV.— A New Emigration 137
XVI.— Christmas Day 147
XVII.— A Report of Progress 156
XVIII.— Discovered 166
XIX.— A New Minister 175
XX.— A Tri-Coloured Crusader 179
XXI.— A Happy Exodus 186
XXII.— “Get On, Get Honour, Get Honest” 199
XXIII.— A City of Homes 207
XXIV.— A Church in Conference 216
XXV.— Thistles or Grapes? 221
XXVI.— His Own Way 229
XXVII.— A Visit of Inquiry 237
XXVIII.— “For Christ and the People!” 244
XXIX.— Young England 252
XXX.— Peace! 259
XXXI.— From Darentdale to High Seathorpe 266
XXXII.— A Letter 276
XXXIII.— All’s Well that Ends Well 283
XXXIV.— Was it a Dream? 292
XXXV.— Was it Expedient? 300
XXXVI.— For Ever After? 307

NINETEEN HUNDRED?

_A FORECAST AND A STORY._