third year. Mr. Tom and Aunt
Susan say he was lovely--so gentle and sweet. It is sad to die so
young, isn't it? But Mr. Tom graduated from college and studied law
with Ex-Judge Green, and if you will believe it, all of the Judge's
practice came to him at his death--Judge Green's death I mean--and
he told me that he could never repay dear Aunt Susan for her
goodness to him and to his brother. It was more than that of a
mother, for they were not of her blood.

"I'll close now, for Mr. Tom has come to take me for a long drive.
I hope the girls get in to see you often. What do they think of
Mamma's giving me permission to join Cousin Kate's Camp Fire Girls?
Isn't it great?

"With love and lots of kisses to all,
Your affectionate grandchild,
Ethel."

CHAPTER XIII

A LITTLE DRIVE

That afternoon when Tom took Ethel for a drive he asked: "Do you see
that large house on the hill?"

"Yes," replied the girl. "It used to belong to Aunt Susan, didn't it?"

"It did," replied the man, "and she presented it to the town of Akron
for an asylum for partially insane people--men and women who have
hallucinations only--so that by gentle and humane treatment they may be
helped if not permanently cured, for she believes that many who might
gain their reason are made hopelessly insane by ill usage. She not only
gave the house and land but she added to it a couple of wings, and she
has created of it a most charming Sanitarium. I'll take you there
tomorrow. You see, Aunt Susan gave it out that if the prominent business
men of Akron could raise fifty thousand dollars she would give fifty
more, making the sum total of one hundred thousand dollars as a fund for
the future support of the Asylum, and by George!" said the young man,
"they raised it. So you see so far as money is concerned they are
independent. The capital is invested in bonds and stock, and the Asylum
is run with the dividends, and is well run, too. Aunt Susan is the
head--the President--and at any moment she may surprise them and walk
in. The patients are treated with courtesy and a great many are
discharged cured; in fact, nearly all. It accommodates only fifty
patients--twenty-five of each sex. There's a continuous waiting list and
it's seldom that one isn't greatly benefited after havi