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Try and Trust; Or, Abner Holden's Bound Boy
Try and Trust; Or, Abner Holden's Bound Boy
CHAPTER I
AROUND THE BREAKFAST TABLE
“Well, wife,” said Mr. Benjamin Stanton, as he sat down to a late breakfast, “I had a letter from Ohio yesterday.”
“From Ohio? Who should write you from Ohio? Anyone I know?”
“My sister, Margaret, you remember, moved out there with her husband ten years ago.”
“Oh, it’s from her, is it?” said Mrs. Stanton, indifferently.
“No,” said her husband with momentary gravity. “It’s from a Dr. Kent, who attended her in her last illness. Margaret is dead!”
“Dear me!” returned Mrs. Stanton, uncomfortably; “and I am just out of mourning for my aunt. Do you think it will be necessary for us to go into mourning for your sister?”
“No, I think not,” said her husband. “Margaret has lived away from us so long, and people won’t know that we have had a death in the family unless we mention it.”
“Was that all the letter said—about the death, I mean?”
“Why, no,” said Mr. Stanton, with a little frown. “It seems Margaret left a child—a boy of fourteen; and, as she left no property, the doctor suggests that I should send for the boy and assume the care of him.”
“Upon my word!” said Mrs. Stanton; “you will find yourself in business if you undertake to provide for all the beggars’ brats that apply to you for assistance.”