Mrs. Armstrong was a widow; her husband had died three years before and left her with three small children. When the doctor bills and funeral expenses were paid there was very little of the thousand dollars of insurance left, and she found herself confronted with the problem of earning a living and caring for the three small children. She went heroically to work taking in washing and succeeded fairly well until one of the children became ill and, after a lingering illness of four months, died. During the time of the illness of the child Mrs. Armstrong's earnings were considerably decreased, as a great portion of her time and energy must be given to the nursing of the little invalid. Doctor bills and funeral expenses and decreased earnings were responsible for the piling up of considerable debts. Grace was the oldest of the children, and the mother often talked things over with her as she had no older person with whom to counsel. This question was occasioned by a letter which notified Mrs. Armstrong that unless the house rent were paid by the first of the next month she must move out. "We might find another house, although vacant houses are scarce, but everybody would want a month's rent in advance. We have only three dollars in the house, and we must keep that to buy bread. You know I had to give up two of the family washings during little Jimmy's sickness, and I have only been able to get one in place of them. I'll go down to the bank and explain to Mr. Stover why I haven't paid the rent." "Do you think if you explain it to him he will let us stay?" "Yes, I think so. You peel the potatoes for dinner while I finish this washing, and then after dinner I'll go see him." That afternoon Mrs. Armstrong called at the Central State Bank and asked for the president. She was informed that he was busy. "Would she wait?" She sat down on the bench and watched the people coming and going; some to deposit and others to draw out. Some with large sacks bearing many coins, others with only a few dollars to add to their accounts. She had neither money to deposit nor money to withdraw. She noticed the large stacks of money behind barred windows and thought of the inequalities of life, and wondered not a little why it should be so. After a wait of half an hour she was informed that Mr. Stover could see her. It was with a great deal of trepidation that she entered the president's office. "I am Mrs. Armstrong," she explained. "I have come to talk with you about the rent." "Yes, let's see, I sent you a notice, didn't I?" "Yes, you told me to pay by the first or get out. I thought if I explained to you why I was behind with the rent you might let me stay, and I will pay." He opened his desk and took out a large book and turned to his list of tenants. He owned ten business houses and fifty residences which he rented. "I find," he said, "that you will be three months behind the first of next month."