Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/218

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2 1 o INTR OD UC TION

confidential legal adviser, she found in him the wisest of advisers and much more than that — a friend who could understand her sensitive and timid nature, respect her very clearly defined wishes, avoid disturbing her by sug- gestions inconsistent with them, and with dehcate con- sideration and sympathy help her to carry them out in effective legal form. It took just such a counsellor to meet the needs of such a client, and her vivid gratitude was his prized reward. What they said of each other in spontaneous expression to one who knew them both, it was a delight to hear.

In conformity with Mr. Balch's advice. Miss Randall created a trust fund of about {^500,000, on April 27, 1892, for certain specified uses. The two trustees whom she appointed, Mr. Balch himself and Mr. William Minot, Jr., were to devote part of this sum to "such charitable purposes as shall be determined by a Board to be called the Board of the J. W. Randall Fund," to consist of seven or more members. She nominated as the original mem- bers of this Board Professor Francis G. Peabody, Professor Robert H. Richards, Mr. Charles W. Birtwell, Mr. Edward W. Hooper, Major Henry L. Higginson, Mr. George S. Hale, and Miss Annette P. Rogers. In the trust deed itself, she thus expressed her general intentions : —

" My wish is that they shall either apply the fund, in whole or part, to some charitable object such as a trade or industrial school, or other charitable purpose they may think preferable, or shall apply the income from time to time for charity or in aid of charitable institutions in such way as they deem best. If they think best, the fund in whole or part may be transferred to any corporation or body organized for like charitable purposes to those they wish to carry out, and in such case the Board may dissolve

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