AUNT SUSAN'S TRIALS
"And now sit down, my dear, and I will tell you something. First you can
never be my heiress, for I have no money to give away or leave to
anyone. Tom supports me entirely. You look surprised and I don't wonder.
I never told your grandmother. She is old and, owning the house in New
York as she does, would probably insist upon my living with her; and
until a year ago I had hopes of recovering some of my property that I
had been cheated out of, but I have given it up. I love pretty gowns and
pretty things as well as anyone, but I am saving the money that Tom
insists upon giving me to spend on myself for him. I wish to leave him
something at my death. Now I will tell you about it and how I lost my
fortune.
"At the time I adopted the boys I was a very wealthy woman. Previous to
that year I had given away a great deal for charity, but I had a hobby
and that hobby was to establish a humane Insane Asylum. I had seen so
much cruelty practiced in different institutions where I happened to
know some of the inmates, and I had heard of such shocking treatment
received by patients, that I resolved to establish a reform. I gave my
handsome home for the Asylum. I spent large sums in fitting it up, so
that it might seem like a beautiful resort to the poor souls, and as Tom
told you, I succeeded in what I undertook. The boys went through school
and college,--or Tom did, and poor Fred would have graduated had he
lived a year longer. It was sad that he had to die, and so young, too."
Aunt Susan wept as she told of his death.
"Perhaps, you remember, Ethel, of reading or of hearing your father
speak of the failure of the Great Western Cereal Company four years ago.
No? I was under the impression that your father owned a few shares of
stock. Well, all I possessed in the world was invested in that Company.
It produced the greatest excitement known in years; in fact, throughout
the entire West there were panics. Everyone who had a little money saved
up bought stock. The dividends were enormous, but they were bogus; that
is, they were paid to each one from his or her own money. It was one of
those unprincipled concerns. They had been after me for a long while.
They knew that I was honest, wealthy, and respected, and that my name
would attract. At first, I put in only a few thousand; then, as it
prospered, I put in more, and finally I put in all that I possessed, for
I wished to make another fortune that I might build more 'Homes' and do
greater good to suffering humanity. The week before its failure what do
you think? Three of the principals sailed for Europe. Two were caught,
tried and are now serving a long term in prison. Two others committed
suicide. Being one of its directors, when the bubble burst I gave up
everything I possessed to help pay some of its poorer creditors, but it
only went a little way; and I, too, was a victim with the rest. Had I
confided my business to Tom he would have advised me not to invest in
it, for Tom has a wonderful way of advising people for the best, but I
kept it a secret so that when he should come of age I could surprise
him, for then I intended to give him full charge of all my affairs. So
you see, Ethel, I may have appeared close and penurious, but now you
understand why. Tom, although getting on finely, works very hard for
every penny, and at times he is almost too generous."
"Oh, Aunt Susan," said the girl drying her eyes, "I feel happy now that
you know all and don't despise me. I'm glad that you're poor and that I
shan't get any of your money. I only wish that I might go to college.
Yes, I'd work my way through to get a good education so that I could be
able to earn my living and not take everything from poor Papa, who works
so hard," and Ethel kissed the old lady many times.