Try and Trust | Page 2

want it for, Tom?"
"Oh, some of the fellows are getting up a club. It's going to be a select
affair, and of course each of us has got to contribute some money. You
see, we are going to hire a room, furnish it nicely with a carpet, black
walnut furniture, and so on, and that'll cost something."
"Whose idea is it?"
"Well, Sam Paget was the first boy that mentioned it."
"Whose son is he?"
"His father belongs to the firm of Paget, Norwood & Co. He's awful
rich."
"Yes, it is one of our first families," said Mr. Stanton, with satisfaction.
"Is he a friend of yours, Tom?"
"Oh, yes, we are quit intimate."

"That's right!" said his father, approvingly. "I am glad you choose your
friends so well. That's one of the principal reasons I have for sending
you to an expensive school, to get you well launched into good
society."
"Yes, father, I understand," said Tom. "You won't find me associating
with common boys. I hold my head a little too high for that, I can tell
you."
"That's right, my boy," said Mr. Stanton, with satisfaction. "And now
how much money do you want for this club of yours?"
"Well," said Tom, hesitatingly, "thirty or forty dollars."
"Isn't that considerable?" said his father, surprised at the amount.
"Well, you see, father, I want to contribute as much as any of the boys.
It would seem mean if I didn't. There's only a few of us to stand the
expense, and we don't want to let in any out of our own set."
"That's true," said Mr. Stanton; "I approve of that. It's all very well to
talk about democracy, but I believe in those of the higher orders
keeping by themselves."
"Then you'll give the money, father?" said Tom, eagerly.
"Yes, Tom, there's forty dollars. It's more than I ought to spare, but I
am determined you shall stand as good a chance as any of your school-
fellows. They shan't be able to say that your father stints you in
anything that your position requires."
"Thank you, father," said Tom, pocketing the two twenty-dollar bills
with great satisfaction.
The fact was that Tom's assessment amounted to only twenty dollars,
but he thought it would be a good excuse for getting more out of his
father. As to the extra money, Tom felt confident that he could find
uses enough for it. He had latterly, though but fourteen years of age,

contracted the habit of smoking cigars; a habit which he found rather
expensive, especially as he felt bound occasionally to treat his
companions. Then he liked, now and then, to drop in and get an
ice-cream or some confectionery, and these little expenses counted up.
Mr. Stanton was a vain, worldly man. He was anxious to obtain an
entrance into the best society. For this reason, he made it a point to
send his children to the most expensive schools; trusting to their
forming fashionable acquaintances, through whom his whole family
might obtain recognition into those select circles for which he
cherished a most undemocratic respect. For this reason it was that,
though not naturally liberal, he had opened his purse willingly at the
demands of Mrs. Stanton and Tom.
"Well," said Mrs. Stanton, after Tom's little financial affair had been
adjusted, "what are you going to write to this doctor? Of course you
won't think of sending for your nephew?"
"By no means. He is much better off where he is. I shall write Dr. Kent
that he is old enough to earn his own living, and I shall recommend that
he be bound out to some farmer or mechanic in the neighborhood. It is
an imposition to expect, because I am tolerably well off, that it is my
duty to support other people's children. My own are entitled to all I can
do for them."
"That's so, father," said Tom, who was ready enough to give his
consent to any proposition of a selfish nature. "Charity begins at
home."
With Tom, by the way, it not only began at home, but it ended there,
and the same may be said of his father. From time to time Mr. Stanton's
name was found in the list of donors to some charitable object,
provided his benevolence was likely to obtain sufficient publicity, Mr.
Stanton did not believe in giving in secret. What was the use of giving
away money unless you could get credit for it? That was the principle
upon which he always acted.
"I suppose," continued Tom, "this country cousin of mine wears

cowhide boots and overalls, and has got rough, red hands like a
common laborer. I wonder what Sam Paget would say if I should
introduce such a fellow to him as my