FIRST HARVESTS WORKS OF FICTION BY F. J. STIMSON (_J. S. of Dale_) =FIRST HARVESTS=, CLOTH, $1.25 =THE SENTIMENTAL CALENDAR=, $2.00 By the Major The Bells of Avalon Mr. Pillian Wraye The Seven Lights of Asia A First Love Letter Bill Shelby Two Passions and a Cardinal Virtue Gloriana; a Fairy Story In a Garret Our Consul at Carlsruhe A Tale Unfolded Mrs. Knollys Passages from the Diary of a Hong Kong Merchant =THE CRIME OF HENRY VANE=, CLOTH, $1.00 =GUERNDALE=, CLOTH, $1.25; PAPER, 50 CENTS =THE RESIDUARY LEGATEE=, CLOTH, $1.00; PAPER, 35 CENTS FIRST HARVESTS _An Episode in the Life of Mrs. Levison Gower_ A Satire Without a Moral BY F. J. STIMSON (J. S. OF DALE) NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 1888 COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS TROW’S PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY, NEW YORK. TO THE READER. _I have called this book a satire; yet have sought within that key an overtone of hope and faith. Our early generation of writers could be all optimists: for they wrote of virgin soil. But since their day has passed, our country’s first-fruits were garnered. With these we have to deal._ _F. J. S._ Boston, November 6, 1888. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE THE SILAS STARBUCK OIL COMPANY, 1 CHAPTER II. FLOSSIE STARBUCK ASPIRES, 15 CHAPTER III. FLOSSIE STARBUCK ATTAINS, 24 CHAPTER IV. ARTHUR HOLYOKE’S DREAMS, 34 CHAPTER V. OF GRACIE HOLYOKE AND OF HER HEART, 43 CHAPTER VI. THE JUDGE SUMS UP HIS CASE, 52 CHAPTER VII. ARTHUR SEES THE WORLD, 61 CHAPTER VIII. ARTHUR SEES MORE OF THE WORLD, 75 CHAPTER IX. ARTHUR GETS ON IN THE WORLD, 88 CHAPTER X. IN WHICH ARTHUR MEETS A WEARIED SOUL, 98 CHAPTER XI. THE STORY OF A QUIET SUNDAY EVENING, 112 CHAPTER XII. A COMMUNIST AND HIS SISTER, 123 CHAPTER XIII. UNA AND THE LION, 137 CHAPTER XIV. A SOCIAL SUCCESS, 146 CHAPTER XV. THE DIVERSIONS OF FINE LADIES, 156 CHAPTER XVI. IN MAIDEN MEDITATION, 164 CHAPTER XVII. A CULTIVATOR OF THISTLES, 171 CHAPTER XVIII. A DAY’S PLEASURE, 190 CHAPTER XIX. A COACH AND FOUR COUPLES, 215 CHAPTER XX. THE CHARIOT OF THE CARELESS GODS, 227 CHAPTER XXI. ARTHUR GOES HOME, 244 CHAPTER XXII. A HOUSE BUILT WITH HANDS, 259 CHAPTER XXIII.