“Oh, there will be a home, all right, even if a few of us have to support it,” declared Mr. Richards, positively.
“After hearing and seeing our gifted Little Citizens we all think the same as Mr. Richards—there must be some form of home provided until the children are self-supporting,” added a lady.
“The thing to decide upon is, how many of you will join in this endeavor and enlist others to help support the home. Miss Selina has promised to close up this country place for the winter and take up her residence at the Home. Miss Martin, who is a most valuable and experienced Settlement Worker and Nature teacher, has also agreed to help Flutey look after the house and children. I, too, will agree to take up a permanent residence at the place to be on hand during the evenings and holidays to advise and help in any way I can. There will be other friends who will eagerly offer their time and help also, I am sure. The sum of money we may have to use for this venture will determine the size of the house we can secure and pay for.”
“You will need a regular asylum to house all these Little Citizens, and those extra ones you still expect from the city,” remarked a pessimistic man.
“Oh, it isn’t at all likely that everyone here this summer will take up a residence in the city home. In fact, the invitation is only open to those who can prove themselves efficient in some manner of work or study. Not that we shall discriminate between trades or professions—we shall not—but in order to be an inmate of our home a Little Citizen must prove that he is steady, ambitious, moral, and obedient to rules, before he can become a member in our family.
“We will not consider the application of anyone who is resentful or malicious in thought, or disobedient in purpose as well as in deed. Anyone who will willingly mislead a companion to disregard rules and regulations cannot be accepted, as one child can upset a whole colony in a little time.”
“Well, Mr. Talmage, you seem to have decided upon having such a home and it only remains for us to join the number who have already agreed to experiment with the idea for the future welfare of our little ‘Jenny Lind,’ the budding ‘Thomas Edison,’ the great band leader ‘Sousa,’ and a few other famous people or their young namesakes,” said one of the Committee chosen for the Easter Outing that spring.
“That’s about it,” acknowledged Uncle Ben.
“Then count on me—or count on my check which is more to the point,” laughed the man.
“There now—Richards, hand Sam the agreement to sign at once before he changes his mind. Sam you can mention the size of the check you will donate after you sign your name. You will find several names already signed,” said Uncle Ben, passing the long legal paper to Mr. Richards to hand over to the man.