The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-17
Aunt Mary,
Banker
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By Jamss cisary
Copyright. iD.. BY X. N. Whitehead

When the First National bank OF
Oilvet was organized. capital $4,000.
Aunt Mary iiilliard became a stock.
holder 10 the amount Of $4,000. She
was wealthy widow. past middle
age, and could have furnished the full
amount had she 10 desired.
The balance Of the stock was taken
by the business men Of olIyet and
farmers thereabouts. and In due time
the bank opened for business. When
the stockholders met to elect board
Of directors they figured ON leaving
Aunt Mary out. though she was one
Of the largest stockholders, She waa
woman. they said. and she knew 1T.
lie about business, and she should bs
well content TO draw her dividends aud
leave the active management to men.
Dent make any mistake about me"
cautioned Aunt Mary as she settled
her bonnet on the back OF her head
and stood TN. I've, been doing bust
ness ever since my husband died, fif
teen years ago, and think I've learn
cd a thing or two. even about banking.
not only want TO be a director, but !
shall drop In here qpite often TO see
how things are golng."t ~ ~
Aunt Mary was made a director II
was that or trouble Then the I've
directors elected n president, secre.
tary and cashier, and Four OF them
smiled paternally as the woman claim
cd the honor OF making the first de-
posit The president was newcomer
In the town, but he had money and
had been cashier Of bank In Buffalo.
The secretary and cashier were old
residents.
The First National secured q large
business at once, and as time passed
on Aunt Mary dropped in occasionally
to keep posted. People who thought
she was old fashioned In her business
notions or that her limit was selling
butter and eggs had to acknowledge
their mistake, She was quite up to
date on finance. and she knew a good
Investment from a doubtful one a. well
e. the president did.
Things were being managed in good
shape all around, and the bank was
looking ahead to fair dividends at the
end Of the year, when Paul Hazard.
nephew to Aunt Mary and young
man Of twenty-five, appeared on the
scene. That is. he appeared at Aunt
Mary's houee, two miles out OF town,
for a visit Of month or two. AZ hs
came from Eood ramily and had Just
finished at the university and was
about to study for the law the harsh
est critic could have found little fault
with him in that regard. Aunt Mary
let 1t be known that be was the apple
OF her eye and her heir as well.
It wasn't the fact that Paul came to
visit his aunt that shook the First
National to It's foundations later, but
that he promptly met and fell in love
with Kittie Leslie. daughter Of the
banks president II so happened that
his own aunt made the introduction In
the directors room Of the bank, intro
ducing him to the father at the same
time, and so the young man found
himself properly vouched for. Mr., Les
lie appeared to look upon him with
favor, and Kittie was well liked By
Aunt Mary, and thus the love match
started or well. In a month there was
an understanding between the two,
Trees. shrubs and burdocks grow fast
er In a country town than In big
city, and perhaps love does the same.
Gossip had 1t th9t It was all settled
Paul oni Klttie when The