The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-16
Hiram Graham's Investment.

'sNow we are NOT only out of debt but
we have got ~ ,0O0 ahead, and the ques-
tion 10, how are we going to invest ltp 4
Hiram Gresham, sIttlng just outside of
the open door to enjoy the grateful cool-1
ness OF the summer evening. threw aside
his paper as he spoke, and awaited his
wife's reply. His wife, busy over her
sewing, did not answer Immediately.
"Come,n he said, s.let me have your
opinion. III bet you've made up your
MIND what to do with it long ago. You
know the saying, "A man to save money
and woman to spend IT." and he
laughed good naturedly.
Yes. Mrs. Graham had made up her
mind long ago. The thought of q time
when they snould be clear of debt and
some OF their surplus earnings could be
expend ior home comforts, had helped
her 10 make over and repair many an
old garment that she was about TO throw
1 aside in despair; it had encouraged her
| To contend with numberless disadyan-
tnges and Inconvenience. But now that
the time had really come she felt q
strange reluctance about revealing her
she was oppressed with fear that her
1 long cherished plans might be dashed to
the earth. However, She commenced
braveiy enough:
tI have thought we would repaint the
house some pretty color, sueh as silver
1 grey, and have shutters put mp at the
4 windows the right shade OF green to har-
lmonlze with tue color OF tie house-the
4 same as the green leaves OF the poplar
lharmonize with the soft grey OF It's trunk
4 and branches"
4 "Why, Jennie" exclaimed Mr.. Gra-
lham, .sthere is a good coat OF paint on
4 the house now. Aud there is no color
as durable as red lead, in my estima-
s.And.n continued his wife, II would
have the yard inclosed with neat picket
ifeuce-"
III don't see any use in tearing down
that fence. The rails are good ana sound
as they were twenty years ago."
4 "Please don't interrupt me so, Hiram /;
would re-paper the rooms, buy new
ingram carpet for the parlor, ana muslin
curtains tor the windows" Its.
Il s.ThunderatiOnl What is the sense OF
having curtains If you have shuttersi
Besides, these paper curtains answer
leyery purpose as tar as Lean see. The
paper ON the walls is perfectly whole,
liz is true thatSou have patched it con-
siderable, but that don't show much
And as for the carpet-why. haven't you
rot a new rag carpet in the room nowr"
.Yes; but that would be for the sit.
i Ting-room. And l would have bay
| window made off the south side Of the
sitting-room, for house-plants."
Mr., Graham laughed outright at this.
VI Snow. Jennie" he said, 81 have never
I said ANYTHING about it, but have always
Il Thought it was kind of foolish to spend
as much money and time as you dc
fussing with flowers outdoors; but wheI
\ YOU come TO make hower-beds of-tha>
/ beats mep
, "diram," said Mrs. Graham, "yor
asked me tor my opinion. NOW, please
: don't interrupt me-"
III every well. Go ahead." "
i ssI would have a portico built oyel
where you are sitting, and wOod-h0uss
4 and a large cool pantry, that need 81
nuct1. on the back OF the Kitchen. One
part OF the wo0d-house would be flushed
joff. where the cook stove could stand in
hot weather. 1t would be so muct
cooler there than In the close Kitchen
II Aud the kitchen, too, would be SO muct
n cooler fer us TO eat in. Besides this
ii there are many little Hdornments, suct
as pictures, etc., that L would add al
II terwaru"
all "Wnyv' exclaimed MIR. Graham, "i
I'VE were 10 60 into that, IL would taxi
every cent oil the money"
' "Weu, we earned it to invest In some
i thing, didn't weW
ssIes; but want to invest my none J
O. in something that will bring me in some
. kind OF an income"
q s'it would bring US in the best Of al
q, incomes, not in dollars, but what is bet
a ter, far-in Joy and happiness. Lif
10 would have fuller and purer nieanin
e for us both; it would bring higher an
:, better atmosphere in which to rear u
l-lIour children. Even the huinminS -bir
lloyes to deck its sweet little nest wit
Ipretty mosses and heDens. Ought W
mot to have as much love for home an
Fits adornings as Gods dumb icret
o turesw "e
70 81 have something more important I
Hive for than humming bird has" sal
IMr. Graham, tartly. Il would rathe
leave something more substantial 10 III
1T children, such as broad, well.tilled acre.
i. for instance. II Will tell you what
have been thinking OF" he said, with th
10 air of one who felt that the expressing
his opinion must necessarily bring col
yiction of his superior Judgment. "Yo
q know that / have always wanted tina
" "lforty-acre lot of SouthWelps that join
e me on tue north. They say he is jhar
n Iup now, and when he finds out that ca
lmake a large payment down l believe
lcould get it mighty reasonable. An
when / get that paid for would hay
lone OF the best larms in the countr.
Of Now, what do you say tothatw he aske
ID Etriumphantly.
9, ..,It would run us right into debt again,
@ suggested Mrs. Graham.
b s1Well, snpposing it did. We hav
le swung clear this time easy enough, an
) can again. You must remember tht
II the land was badly run down when
" first got hold OF il, but the farm is i
d good condition now."
= "Easy enough" Mrs. Graham did M
Is lrepeat the words aloud. Her husban
Ibid not know Of the little sacrifices an
ID acts of seli-denial it had cost her. Il
It never could know it, aud there lies tn
d lpathos Of many a sacrifice.
jr The next morning Mrs. Graham W;
igl up be.imes, and busy as usual amid
:h ner household cares, but heriheart ha
ne II lost it's ligdtness; and as she stood und,
id the locust tree which shaded the bat
be- door, churning, 1T seemed too, as IL mut
a. Of the brightness had gone out Iof b
al life. Golden dahdellon nestled in Il
ar grass that carpeted the yard like stri
q bits of sunshine; they were still brig
1et with the dewy freshness OF early .m0r
iei ing. To the right there was stretch
low meadow land; the silver thread tn
e. trayersed II showed where a brook mn
II III MIR raff aInng tta fity w a vaa cna rstino