ed to the amount of the investment.

There were fifty shares issued, of three dollars each; and Miss Jane
Davis, who subscribed one dollar and a quarter, got five-twelfths of a
share. The members of the Board, collectively, put in thirty dollars.

The majority of the shareholders considered their money as a donation to
a good cause, for of course, it was known that Aunt Matilda's support
was the object of the whole business; but some hoped to make something
out of it, and others contributed out of curiosity to see what sort of a
telegraph the company would build, and how it would work.

It was urged by some wise people that if this money had been contributed
directly to Aunt Matilda, it would have been of much more service to
her; but other people, equally wise, said that in that case, the money
could never have been raised.

The colored people, old and young, took a great interest in the matter,
and some of them took parts of shares, which was better. Even John
William Webster took seventy-five cents worth of stock.

The most astonishing subscription was one from Aunt Matilda herself. One
day she handed to Kate a ten-cent piece--silver, old style--and
desired that that might be put into the company for her. Where she got
it, nobody knew, but she had it, and she put it in.

Explanations were of no use. The fact of the whole business being for
her benefit made no impression on her. She wanted a share in the
company, and was proud of her one-thirtieth part of a share.

A Shareholder

Taking them as a whole, the Board of Directors appeared to have been
very well chosen. Tom Selden was a good fellow and a firm friend of
Harry and Kate. They might always reckon upon his support, although he
had the fault, when matters seemed a little undecided, of giving his
advice at great length. But when a thing was agreed upon he went to work
without a word.

Harvey Davis was a large, blue-eyed boy, very quiet, with yellow hair.
He was one of the best scholars in the Akeville school, and could throw
a stone over the highest oak-tree by the church--something no other boy
in the village could do. He made an admirable Director.

Dr. Price's son, Brandeth, and Wilson Ogden, lived some miles from the
village, and sometimes one or the other of them did not get to a meeting
of the Board until the business before it had been despatched. But they
always attended punctually if there was a horse or a mule to be had in
time, and made no t