Ellis Parker Butler

“ As long as we have the old home, where mother was so happy—”
“We have no home,” said Ashbel. “The company has a home. I transferred that with the rest. They can vote us out of it.”
“But they would not do that!” cried Doris with horror. “Not out of the home you built; not out of the home where they were born!”
Ashbel laughed with a sneering intake of breath.
He was right. He had no home, and before a month was up George let him know it. He put the matter on the sanest grounds. The old home was expensive to keep up and unnecessarily large for one man and one daughter. ”

“ Business is not the same.”.
“Very true, father,” said George.
“When I was a young man,” continued Ashbel, “what a man earned was his own. He was respected for it, but times have changed. I’ve never done anything for this town.”
“You have helped build it up,” said Walter. “You have been a good citizen.”
His father looked at him coldly.
“I’ve been a good business man, Walter,” he said, “and I’m a better business man to-day than any of you. I’m going to vote myself that eight hundred thousand dollars, and I’m going to give the town of Westcote a park—a million dollar park—Clute Park.” ”

“ To tear an old man from the home he has known the better part of his life is the utmost cruelty, and Ashbel was not losing his home only, but the investments that were like living, breathing friends to him. The Gold Ridge Coal Company he had created and nursed through its infant ailments as he had nursed George and Walter. ”

“ But you are not as young as you were, father. Business to-day requires keen minds, and even a mind like yours grows dull with age. Look at this reasonably, father. Would you, even ten years ago, have thought of giving a million dollars for a park as a present to the city? It’s not business; it’s folly.”
Ashbel looked at Walter and saw his son’s firm jaw set as his own had set many a time when his will had been contested.
“Walter is right,” said George. ”

“ That was poor business.”
“The land will be worth two millions in twenty years,” said Ashbel.
“Oh, don’t argue!” said Kate impatiently. “Father, we have decided it is time we took the management of our affairs into our own hands. You are old now, and this notion of throwing away a million dollars for a park is but one instance of what old men will do. You will get into the hands of sharpers and thieves, and they will rob you right and left. We have talked it over, and we are going to elect George President and Manager of the Company.”
Ashbel stood up. His eyes blazed and his hand trembled. ”

“ Nine millions each, except Doris. Make her portion one share less.”
“To allow for your one share,” said Lane.
“The objects of the company,” said Ashbel, in the same dry tone, “are to own and deal in real-estate, personal-property, stocks, bonds—”
“I understand,” said the lawyer. “You wish it to have the fullest latitude allowed by the law.”
“That’s it,” said Ashbel. “I want to turn all my property over to it. And then draw up a note, Henry, for twenty-eight millions, payable to me. I’ll have the company sign it when I turn over my property to it. ”

“ The men worked hard and women and men alike dressed well and attended church regularly and gave to the church in proportion to what their means were supposed to be. Once each year each of the married sons and daughters gave a reception, to repay the social obligations they had incurred during the past twelve-month, and these receptions were notable events, well planned and well carried out. ”