Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-01-06

well" said Eric at last, with his
usual bluntness. you're the only one
that has any money. It's for you to
say what can be done on that line"
'As near as l can figure out" con-
tinued Stuart as if he had not heard
Eric, ''the property left by father is
worth in the neighbOrhood of $4,000
600. Half Of it is in the mines and
their equipment Father had full con-
troll of the property at his death and
practically operated the mines as the
company. You know, Eric, how father
managed. While the other ranges went
into the hands of stockholders, leaving
q few men in control with a surplus Of
stock, father worked along from the
time he was captain in the Beury
mine, running all the business by him.
self. 1t is practically in the same shape
now. l could sell out in ordinary
times for S2.000,O0O The mines turned
out under fathers management won
derfully remunerative. Then there is
nearly $1,000,000 that l hold in trust
for Louise. That of course is hers to
do with as she chooses. The remaining
S1,OOO,O0O is in such shape that it could
be converted into cash at any time and
is entirely under my control"
'Then You have $1,O0O,OOO to spend?"
asked Andrew simply.
Yes; it amounts to that Of course
the mines pay for themselves while
they are running. This $1,OOO,O0O rep
resents savings, ii, LIONS in the
business, profits. Mosl Of it was made
in less than five years."
The men were all silent again. There
was a good deal of hard thinking 60
ing on. Stuart spoke first:
THE question now is, How can this
money best be used to the glory of
God? How would you use it if it was
yours, Andrew" He asked the ques-
ton suddenly, turning to the minister,
who sat close by the table with one
arm resting on it close by one of his
favorite plants.
Andrew stared at Stuart and did not
know what to say. At last he eXclaim-
ed: That's very hard question to an
swer. In my widest dreams l never
approached the edge of a thought of a
million dollars to spend. l never had
over a thousand dollars a year in my
life. l should think q million dollars
would buy up all the hothouses in the
United States, and as for rare speci-
menS-well, it takes my breath away to
imagine what million dollars would
do. But I'm off the track. Yes,
know : ;cx,,+
ton of what 1 could get for myself, but
what l could get for other people, and
am inclined to believe it is harder to
spend money for others than for your
self"
Il don't know about that" broke in
Eric. Il have always believed if
had million dollars to spend in Cham
pion l could make good use of it."
go on, Eric; tell what you would
do" said Stuart, turning to him.
well, for one thing" spoke Eric,
his dark eye glowing under the impulse
of his idea, Il would build a house or
hall dedicated to the cause Of labor.
l would have it in the center of every
useful and inspiring idea that could
elevate and enlarge q mans mind,
sensibilities and affections. 1 would
have a platform there on which the
best speakers, singers and preachers
could bring their messages to the peo-
pie. | would put two of the greatest
joys of the world within easy reaching
distance Of every workingman in
ChampiOn-1 mean music and flowers.
They would be under the roof of this
building dedicated to the common peo-
pie.
"Oh. have lain awake many a night
planning out the spending of other
peoples money for my people," said
Eric. with a smile that was sadder
than tears. "The heartache, oh. the
heartache, l have felt at the wasted
music and perfume of Gods rich earth,
And G | had money to use l could
bring some of these things close to the
lives Of these men and brothers whose
lives are spent underground, who live
like animals, as if God had never made
the birds to sing and the violets to
bloom. l almost hesitate to say to you
two what l have felt as I have known
of the rich and petted men and women
of society wasting their money by the
millions on their own narrow, selfish
pleasure while thousands of the chill
dren of the street and the mine never
heard any sound sweeter than a coarse
note from an unframed voice or felt
the beauty and perfume of anything
better than dusty weed by the road
side. These wants, these differences
between the rich and the poor and the
miracles of pleasure for my brethren
and my own consciousness of helpless
ness in the matter have almost made
me at times a hater of men, a BIAS
phemer against God and all the uni
verse. Money!" cried Eric as he clinSh-
ed his hand on his knee, while the fdce,
pale and worn from the recent injury,
glowed with the fire of it's inward spir-
itual agony. eff l had just what will
be wasted in this town this winter in
wicked display and foolishness, could