by Al Lacy
Brace saw a merchant coming from the teller’s cages that he knew well. He introduced him to his wife, then they crossed the lobby to a fenced area where several secretaries were busy at their desks. Maria Swenson, who was the president’s personal secretary, looked up and greeted the Braces.
“Nice to see you, Maria,” said Brace. “Mr. Kottman is expecting us.”
“He certainly is,” she said, rising from the desk. She opened the small gate near her desk. “Come with me.”
Maria approached the door of the president’s office, tapped on it, and entered. “I have Mr. and Mrs. Brace here, sir.”
Lee Kottman, who was about the same age as Charles Brace, rose from his desk chair. “Hello, folks! Nice to see you. Please have a seat here in front of the desk.” He reached across the desk and shook hands with Brace, did a slight bow to Letitia, then all three sat down.
Charles and Letitia waited for Kottman to speak. “I want to say to both of you that I deeply appreciate the fact that the Children’s Aid Society has its general fund and payroll checking accounts with our bank.”
Brace smiled. “We’re very happy with the service here, Mr. Kottman.”
“Good! It’s always refreshing to hear such words from our customers.” He ran his gaze between them. “No doubt you’re wondering why I sent Harold Wiggins to you and asked that both of you come as soon as possible.”
“Well, we’re a bit curious, yes.”
Letitia quietly smiled at him.
“Well, I have something to tell you. I had a meeting with the bank directors yesterday afternoon. As you may know, we have twelve directors, who are all prominent businessmen.”
“We do, sir,” said Brace.
“I’ve had something on my mind lately that I wanted to do for the Children’s Aid Society. I brought it up to the directors and reminded them of the marvelous work you are doing for the orphans of this city, and together, we have agreed to come up with a gift of fifty thousand dollars for the Society. The money will be deposited in the Society’s general fund account this morning.”
For a moment, the Braces were stunned into silence. Finally, Charles found his voice, and though it was shaking with emotion, he said, “Mr. Kottman, I don’t know how to thank you. This … this is such a pleasant surprise. It was totally unexpected, but so very much needed.”
“Yes, Mr. Kottman,” said Letitia, hardly able to breathe.
Brace leaned closer to the desk. “As you know, Mr. Kottman, there are literally thousands upon thousands of children who are roaming those streets out there, let alone thousands more who are packed into the orphanages. More children turn up out there in the streets every day. Letitia and I were talking about it just yesterday. We need more funds to care for those we bring in and then send out West. This is going to be a tremendous help to us. Thank you for caring about the children and for leading in this tremendous blessing.”
Kottman smiled, letting it spread from ear to ear. “Mr. Brace, you are more than welcome. It always gives me pleasure to help a good cause, as it does our directors. Children are the future of this country, and we must take care of them. I can speak for the directors as well as the staff and employees of this bank. We are deeply grateful for all that you, Mrs. Brace, and your wonderful staff do for this city’s orphans and disowned children. We should be thanking you instead of you thanking us.”
Charles and Letitia looked at each other, then Charles said, “Our work is a rewarding one, sir. And even more so when we hear comments like that. We just don’t know what to say to fully express our appreciation. Of course you and the directors will receive a letter from me, Mrs. Brace, and our directors for your generosity.”
This time it was a sly grin on the bank president’s face. “Well, I have something else to tell you.”
The Braces exchanged glances again, then set their eyes on Kottman, who said, “The directors and I have also agreed that if the Society continues to do the great work you are doing by sending homeless children on your orphan trains and finding homes for them, this fifty-thousand-dollar gift will be an annual thing.”
The Braces were in shock again.
Kottman’s grin was still on his lips. “I know that many businesses donate money to the Society. That’s how you exist. My colleagues and I merely want to have a part in this great work. Well, I know you are busy people, and I won’t detain you any longer.” The bank president rose to his feet. “God bless you both.”
The Braces bid Lee Kottman good-bye for the time being, thanked him again for his generosity, and left the bank.
Outside in the bright sunshine, Charles helped Letitia into the buggy, untied the horse’s reins from the post, and climbed in beside her. He took her hand and said, “Honey, let’s pray.”
They bowed their heads and Charles led them as they gave God the glory for His goodness and mercy toward the Society.
When Charles put the horse into motion and they moved down the street, the Braces talked together, making plans for all that they could accomplish with this unexpected largesse that the Lord had bestowed on the Society.
Still praising their heavenly Father to the sound of clopping hooves and the city sounds around them, they wove their way through the traffic, heading back toward the Children’s Aid Society headquarters to share the good news.
Chapter Five
When Charles and Letitia Brace had gone only two blocks from the Central Bank and Trust Company, they were still chattering exuberantly about the unexpected boon that had just come to the Children’s Aid Society. Charles pulled rein momentarily to allow a bread wagon to leave the curb, then put the horse into motion once again.
They were approaching a corner, and suddenly they heard loud, angry voices. Their attention was drawn to a group of teenagers on the corner yelling indignantly at two young teenage girls who were both weeping. People were passing by and gawking at the scene, but no one was interfering.
Brace swung the buggy to the curb. “I don’t like the looks of this,” he said as he started out of the buggy.
Letitia said, “I don’t, either,” and climbed out her side.
Brace looked at her. “Honey, you don’t need to get in on this.”
“Yes, I do,” she said, moving up to his side and taking hold of his arm. “Those poor girls are being picked on unmercifully.”
The shouting went on, and as the Braces drew up they saw that the two girls who were under verbal attack were identical twins. Letitia let go of her husband’s arm and stepped between the twins, placing an arm around each of them. They both turned and looked at her through tear-filled eyes.
Charles moved up between the angry group and the twins and ran his gaze over the sour faces. “What’s going on here?”
The shouting suddenly faded away.
As with all of the street urchins’ groups, this one had a leader. He was a husky boy of fifteen with a sullen look about him. There was intense displeasure in his fiery eyes as he set them on Brace, and his voice was thick when he spoke. “My friends and I live on the street, mister. We have a spot in that alley over there where we sleep. This has been our corner for begging since almost a year ago.”
He set his blazing eyes on the auburn-haired twins. “Those two redheads were already on the corner when me and my friends came from the alley to do our daily beggin’. They were gettin money from people who usually give money to us. This is our corner! They had no business beggin’ here!”
“Calm down now, son,” said Charles Brace. “What’s your name?”
“Darold,” came the reply as the boy bolted the twins with a hateful look.
Letitia felt the trembling in the twins’ bodies. She gently patted their backs, trying to soothe them.
Darold turned and frowned at Brace. “Why should I calm down? This is our corner, and when I told those intruders I wanted the money they had collected, they refused to give it to me. They said they had as much right to beg on this corner as we do.”
Deena Mitchell met
Darold’s gaze. “We didn’t think we were doing anything wrong, and we still don’t.” She turned to the lady who had an arm around her. “We were just begging like thousands of other children do here so we can stay alive. Then all of a sudden these boys and girls came at us, screaming at us, saying we were in their territory.”
“Yeah,” spoke up Donna, “they threatened to beat us up if we didn’t give them the money we got this morning and leave the corner.”
“Beat you up?” Letitia said, acting as if the threat surprised her.
“Yes, ma’am,” said Donna.
Letitia set her jaw and looked at the group. “Well, that’s not going to happen.”
The attention of Charles Brace and the angry group went to Letitia and the twins.
Looking from one twin to the other as she kept her arms around them, Letitia asked, “What are your names?”
“Our last name is Mitchell,” said the girl in Letitia’s right arm.
“My name is Donna and my sister’s name is Deena.”
“Are you orphans?”
“No, ma’am. Our parents sent us away from home because they can no longer afford to keep us.”
Letitia’s features pinched. “Oh.”
“We’ve tried to find jobs,” said Deena, “but so far we haven’t been able to find any. So we turned to begging. We’ve been sleeping in an alley near here. We didn’t know somebody owned this corner.”
Darold scowled at her. “Well, we do! You go find another corner to do your beggin’! This one belongs to me and my friends. And before you go, we want the money that belongs to us. You got it on this corner, and that makes it ours!”
Charles Brace shook his head. “No, Darold, it doesn’t make the money yours. I’m sorry you have to live on the streets, but you do not own this corner. Nor do you have any right to take the money from Deena and Donna that they begged for and received.”
Darold glowered crossly at Brace. His dark curly hair dangled on his forehead. “I know who you are! You’re that Charles Brace guy who heads up the Children’s Aid Society. I’ve seen your picture in the newspapers. I’m right, ain’t I? You’re Charles Loring Brace, ain’tcha?”
“Yes, I am.”
Darold sneered. “Well, since you’re sendin’ so many street kids out West on your orphan trains, how come you don’t offer to send any of us?”
“Let me explain something, son. The Society is only allowed to send two coaches of orphans on each train. This limits us on how many children we can send.”
Darold pulled his lips tight and made a grunting sound.
Brace fixed him with steady eyes. “When I find street children with a bad attitude like yours and that of your friends, I’m slow to take them in because they usually turn out to be troublemakers while staying at the Society’s headquarters or when they’re on a train heading west.”
Brace felt the heat from all eyes in the group. “Change your attitude, young people. I’ll come back by and check on you in a few weeks. If I find you acting civil like you ought to, I’ll consider you for a trip west.”
With that, Brace turned and set his gaze on his wife and the twins.
Letitia sent a signal to her husband by looking first at him, then turning to look at each girl standing within the circle of her arms.
Having been married to this woman for over twenty years, Charles stepped to Letitia and smiled. “We’ll do it, honey. Let’s take the girls over to the buggy.” Then he turned to the twins. “Would you come with us?”
Darold and his group glared at the Braces as they walked to the buggy. Charles looked over his shoulder at the group. Darold said something to his friends that Charles could not distinguish, but stood with his feet spread apart with a look of defiance. Charles shook his head, then turned back to the twins.
Donna and Deena stood with identical quizzical looks on their faces, casting sidelong glances at the group, who were now grumbling loudly that they wanted their money.
Ignoring them, Charles smiled at Deena and Donna. “Have you girls heard of the Children’s Aid Society?”
“We have, sir,” said Deena.
Letitia took hold of the girls’ hands. “Would you like to come to the Society and stay with us so you’ll be warm and have plenty to eat until we can put you on an orphan train and send you out West?”
The voices of Darold and his group were so loud, Donna said, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Brace, I could barely hear you. Did you say we could stay with you and be warm and full?”
Letitia raised her voice. “Yes, dear. We will keep you at the Society’s headquarters until we can put you on an orphan train, and you’ll have the opportunity to be taken into a foster home out West. Would you want to do that?”
The twins stared at each other in wonderment. “Oh yes!” blurted Deena. “We sure would, wouldn’t we, Donna?”
“Very much so.”
“Good!” said Letitia. “There are many nice families out West who are taking homeless children into their own homes. That sounds all right?”
“Sounds like a little bit of heaven,” said Deena.
Donna took a deep breath. “It sure does! Especially after what we have lived through the past few days.”
“Let’s be on our way then,” said Charles. “Hop in the back seat, girls.”
The girls did as they were told while Charles helped Letitia into the front seat, then circled the wagon and climbed in beside her.
Deena took hold of Donna’s hand. “Can you believe it, sis? It sounds almost too good to be true!”
“It sure does,” said her twin, “but I just pinched myself, and I’m not dreaming!”
The Braces laughed, and Charles put the buggy into motion with a snap of the reins. They drove away with Darold and his group shouting snide remarks at them.
While driving along the street, Charles spoke over his shoulder to the twins. “I was just going over our train schedule in my mind. We’ll put you girls on an orphan train that is leaving Grand Central Station on March 30. Until that time, you will be in the girls’ dormitory at the Society’s headquarters. And as Mrs. Brace said, you will have a warm place to stay and plenty to eat. It looks like you may need some new clothes. We’ll take care of that.”
Donna said, “We have some clothes in this bag we’re carrying, Mr. Brace, but they’re sort of worn out. It would be wonderful to have some new ones. And the food and warm place to stay sure sounds good!”
“It does!” Deena said excitedly. “Thank you so much.”
“One other thing,” said Brace. “Would you tell me your parents’ address? I want to go talk to them so they will know that we’re sending you out West.”
Deena told him the address and apartment number and explained that with their father working two jobs, it would be hard to find him home. Charles said just talking to their mother would be enough.
Soon they arrived at the Society’s headquarters. Deena and Donna were taken into Ivy Daniels’s office where Charles and Letitia sat down with them. Charles asked the girls to tell their story to Ivy, who made notes as the twins gave her the details.
When they finished, Ivy set compassionate eyes on the girls. “I’m so sorry this has happened to you. But I’m glad Mr. and Mrs. Brace came along when they did.” She wrote their names in a notebook. “Well, you’re registered with us now, and you are officially scheduled to be on the train that leaves March 30. You’ll be staying in room number ten with two other girls.”
Charles rose from his chair. “I’ll go see your mother right now girls.”
Donna said, “Please tell her that we love her.”
Deena nodded. “Yes. Please tell her, Mr. Brace.”
“I’ll do that. Mrs. Brace will take you to your room.”
Ivy told the twins how happy she was that they were going west to find a new home, and Letitia walked them down the hall to the girls’ dormitory. When they reached room ten, the door was open. The two girls who occupied the room were sitting on chairs talking as su
nlight filtered through the windows. They looked up and smiled as Letitia entered with the twins on her heels.
Letitia smiled back. “Betsy, Margie, I have some new roommates for you. As you can see, they are identical twins. This is Donna and this is Deena. Their last name is Mitchell. They are thirteen years old. Donna, Deena, this young lady with the cast on her arm is Betsy Gilder. She’s twelve. This other young lady is Margie Lehman, and she is fourteen.”
Donna and Deena noticed that not only was Betsy’s left arm in a cast, but there were purple bruises on her face.
Betsy and Margie welcomed the twins, and Letitia could see that their warmth was pleasant to the twins. She showed the twins where to hang the clothes they had in the cloth bag, and while they were placing them in the closet, Letitia surreptitiously glanced at the threadbare clothing. She made a silent guess at their size then excused herself, saying she would let them get acquainted and hurried away.
Margie left her chair and went to where two other chairs stood and dragged them into the center of the room, telling the twins to sit down. As they did so, the twins looked around the room. After living in the cramped, dingy tenement flat, and more recently on the cold streets of Manhattan, the room seemed like a little corner of heaven. There were four single cots in the sunfilled room, each covered with a bright, colorful quilt and a soft pillow.
Margie sat back down next to Betsy and looked into the faces of the twins. “Have you been orphans long?”
“We’re really not orphans,” Donna said. “Our parents can’t afford to keep us any longer, so they sent us out onto the streets.”
“I’m sorry it happened to you,” said Betsy, adjusting her left arm and the cast.
“It’s been hard for us,” Deena said. “How did your arm get broken, Betsy? And how did you get those bruises?”
Betsy’s eyes filled with tears and she put her free hand to her face.
Deena’s jaw slacked. “Oh, I’m sorry, Betsy. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Margie put an arm around Betsy. “It’s all right, Deena—you are Deena, aren’t you?”