had a
respectable suit of clothes. Another can obtain work by learning a
trade, but can't live while he learns it. A woman can support herself if
she can buy a sewing-machine, but hasn't the money to buy it. Another
can get a job at something, but is required to make a deposit to the
value of the goods intrusted to her. Now, if all these people could go
to some company, and tell their story, and get their notes discounted,
according to their reputation, just as the merchant does at his bank,
don't you see what a help it would be?"

"How much would it take, Peter?"

"One cannot say, because, till it is tested, there would be no way of
knowing how much would be asked for. But a hundred thousand dollars
would do to start with."

"Why, that's only a hundred people giving a thousand each," cried
Leonore eagerly. "Peter, I'll give a thousand, and I'll make mamma and
papa give a thousand, and I'll speak to my friends and--"

"Money isn't the difficult part," said Peter, longing to a fearful
degree to take Leonore in his arms. "If it were only money, I could do
it myself--or if I did not choose to do it alone, Miss De Voe and Pell
would help me."

"What is it, then?"

"It's finding the right man to run such a company. I can't give the
time, for I can do more good in other directions. It needs a good
business man, yet one who must have many other qualities which rarely go
with a business training. He must understand the poor, because he must
look into every case, to see if it is a safe risk--or rather if the past
life of the applicant indicates that he is entitled to help. Now if your
grandfather, who is such an able banker, were to go into my ward, and
ask about the standing of a man in it, he wouldn't get any real
information. But if I ask, every one will tell me what he thinks. The
man in control of such a bank must be able to draw out the truth. Unless
the management was just what it ought to be, it would be bankrupt in a
few months, or else would not lend to one quarter of the people who
deserve help. Yet from my own experience, I know, that money can be
loaned to these people, so that the legal interest more than pays for
the occasional loss, and that most of these losses are due to
inability, more than to dishonesty."

"I wish we could go on talking," sighed Leonore. "But the people are
beginning to go downstairs. I suppose I must go, so as to say good-bye.
I only wish I could help you in charity."

"You have