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
“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
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