The money advanced to the employees was rapidly returned through the company's treasurer to Colonel Harris, and by him, and later by his heirs, was again invested in other lines of practical benevolence. The act which gave Colonel Harris most comfort was his righting the great wrong done James Ingram, his early joint-partner, and father of George, his son-in-law. Colonel Harris held $2,500,000 of the steel company's stock. He disposed of this stock as follows:—
To George and Gertrude, each $250,000 or $500,000
To James Ingram, early partner 1,000,000
Retaining for himself only 1,000,000
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Total $2,500,000
Since his return Reuben Harris had aged rapidly, his hair having whitened, caused probably by the loss of his only son and lovely daughter. His joy on account of the success of the Co-operative Steel Mills could not banish his intense grief. He had performed his life work, and the cares and burdens of the new enterprise he had placed upon George Ingram in whom he had full confidence. He had seen much in his travels abroad; and now he had learned a most valuable lesson, taught by the Savior himself, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
At the close of a long summer day, as the golden sun dropped into blue Lake Erie, the life of Reuben Harris passed from sight. It was a strange coincidence that the papers Monday morning should contain parallel obituary notices of both Reuben Harris and James Ingram. Together they had labored earnestly for humanity, each in his own way, and now reconciled, together they entered,—
"The undiscovered country from whose bourne
No traveller returns."
The four thousand employees, in a body, attended the double funeral. Each man had been the recipient of tangible assistance from both Harris and Ingram, and each laborer felt that he had lost a personal friend. It was a touching scene as the four regiments of employees, each wearing evidence of mourning on his arm, filed past the two open caskets. Each employee left a rose on the caskets till both were hidden from sight. The thousands of roses were more eloquent than marble or bronze. During the week, the employees each contributed the wages of two days for bronze statues of their late employers.
George and Gertrude felt keenly the loss of their fathers. They also become conscious of increased responsibilities, but each had courage, and good cheer was imparted if either faltered or stood beneath gray skies. Their home life was delightful. Each possessed the art of controlling trifles; thus troubles were minimized and joys were magnified.
Later twins, a boy and girl, entered their home, and the mother said, "If you call our son George Ingram, Jr., I shall call our daughter Gertrude Ingram, Jr.," and so there lived under the same roof George I. and George II., Gertrude I. And Gertrude II.
Gertrude proved a model wife and mother. The mystery of woman's love and purity is no longer a secret when we watch the mother in touch with innocent children. Gertrude gave home duties prominence over all others, with the blessed result that George found more attractions in his own home than in clubs or in the homes of his friends.
To do daily some little favor for his wife, as in lover days, gave him much pleasure. Every night George came home with a new book, rare flowers, or fruit, the first of the season, or some novel plaything for his "Two G's" as he often called the little twins. Gertrude occasionally rebuked her husband for spending the money foolishly, as she said, but then remembrance of his family when down town gratified her. Wives miss and long for appreciation more than for better dress or money. If, on return to tea, the bread is good, the thoughtful husband speaks of it. If the table-cloth is white or if the arrangement of the meal is artistic, he speaks of it. A single word of honest approval makes the wife happy.