Chapter Three: Charity Day

I yawned as I put on my shoes. Other children would be spending this Saturday playing games with friends, but this was Charity Day. Once a month, Mother and Father took donations to orphanages and hospitals, and we had to accompany them. I always hated Charity Day. To be sure, it was a wonderful thing to help the less fortunate, but my heart always broke when I saw how unhappy other children were. At the end of the day, I would return to my mansion with my family, but these children would remain alone in their hospital rooms or orphanages.

When we reached the hospital, Mother and Father spoke with the administration about making a contribution while we children were directed into a room where a young hamster lay covered in bandages.

"You have visitors," a nurse told him.

The boy smiled. "That sounds great!"

Cora took his hand. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm lucky to be alive!" he replied cheerfully. "That cat almost ate me!"

I thought I was going to be sick. Shuddering at the scars that covered the boy's sutured face, I realized why Mother abhorred cats so much.

"We're the Ingham family," Margie began. "I'm Margaret. These are my sisters, Cora and Elizabeth. This is our other sister, Florence." She placed her hands on my shoulders. "And this is Bartholomew, our brother."

Beth reached into the bag and pulled out a toy. "A little something from us to you."

The hamster grinned. "Thank you so much! This means a lot to me!" He stared in disbelief. "I never thought I'd get a visit from the Inghams! You're the richest citizens of Mousedom!"

We visited dozens of children in the hospital, but I couldn't forget the boy who had been attacked by the cat. Every time I thought about him, I felt too weak to stand.

Afterwards, we visited the orphanage. I read to a group of children while Beth made them some lunch. Margie and Flo did some housekeeping while Cora distributed gifts to the orphans.

"You have a way with children," Mother complimented me later.

Father smiled. "It shows you'll be excellent at your future role in society."

"What future role?" I asked.

"Someday, you will have your own family," he replied.

"I won't!" Beth put in. "If Bart wants to be married and become a parent in the future, he's welcome to it, but I intend to remain single for as long as I live!"

Flo thought. "I'm not sure if I ever want a family or not, but I guess I've got plenty of time to decide that in the future."

I had trouble sleeping that night. I thought of the hamster who was almost killed by the cat. I thought of the orphans who didn't even have a loving family. I thought of the children too poor to have even a roof over their heads. At least debtors' prisons were no longer common. I couldn't imagine how hard it would be for a child to see his or her parents sent to one.

I vowed that when I reached adulthood, I would use my share of the family inheritance to help all those who were unfortunate, especially children. How could I enjoy the blessings of my wealth, knowing that there were some who didn't have so much as their health or their next meal?