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