Old Mr.Truly Matthews subscribed five dollars, and hoped that he should see his money back again; but if he didn't, he supposed it would help to keep the boys out of mischief.

Small sums were contributed by other persons in the village and neighborhood, each of whom was furnished with a certificate of stock proportioned to the amount of the investment.
There were fifty shares issued, of three dollars each; and Miss Jane Davis, who subscribed one dollar and a quarter, got five-twelfths of a share.

The members of the Board, collectively, put in thirty dollars.
The majority of the shareholders considered their money as a donation to a good cause, for of course, it was known that Aunt Matilda's support was the object of the whole business; but some hoped to make something out of it, and others contributed out of curiosity to see what sort of a telegraph the company would build, and how it would work.
It was urged by some wise people that if this money had been contributed directly to Aunt Matilda, it would have been of much more service to her; but other people, equally wise, said that in that case, the money could never have been raised.
The colored people, old and young, took a great interest in the matter, and some of them took parts of shares, which was better.

Even John William Webster took seventy-five cents worth of stock.
The most astonishing subscription was one from Aunt Matilda herself.

One day she handed to Kate a ten-cent piece--silver, old style--and desired that that might be put into the company for her.