The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-03-30
THE HOLE IN TIE FLOOR.

The life l,ject of Seth GTovner and Susan
his vie WAS To andss property. Ii had
been then ann since their wedd,d exisIence,
which now counted fifteen years, aud Was
ST III cherished as the dearest wish of their
hearts. No change was made except 1T
would hasten the desired cunsuminatIun of
thus long-uui tui,d hope no ouliay vas
ventuied upon unless II promised assistance
to the boarding oi money. Not day le-
spite had the one fiom uuCeasng applIca-
ton TO business, not an hour passed that
the other Was not planning some new way
to save dollars and cents.
In such AN atmosphere of eager grasping
tor property, it would be strange had their
children :, scaped he infection. Then lit
tie faces brig hicned at the sight of penny
not that it would procure sweet meats, but
because it wou id add another To theiI siole
Of coins; and the small hand grasied 1t
with as instructive aud keen a pleasure as
All aged mIser ciu;cbes his goid. he oft
repeated parental INJUNCTION, "A penny
saved is a leuny earucd," lell upon the
chiiaIsh cans, but childish wisdom applied
the MAXIM; the contectIoner ana NUT
veuder were rarely called upon by the oumg
Grovuei s-the seed was taxing root.
Air, aud Mrs. Grovncr had nothing TO
give away. Poverty, IN the ioim of "a rag
ged meudicant, Was iudeiJ repuised; mIs-
tvrluue, in The gaiU of oesponuehcy, met
wI,h ,ebuke lustes,d OF sympathy +; soIIow,
in the persons OF mourning " idowS ahd
fatberiess children, vaInly sought words OF
cousUIat aud a he ping hand the KINDLY
voice oi pry, and the wuisperiiigs of chail-
ty, were uniieard by cais inaccessible save
to the iIuts OF .iugaiiiy, the Suggestions of
economy, or the piomptuiSs oi prudence
All lItIe DO the uiiiOIiunate gam iiom
those making haste to be iichl
Reading, the cheapest Of all luxuries, Mr.
Gruvuer thought too expensive 10 oe en-
couraped. Books cost money, ana ne~sIa-
peis couldn't he haa ior nothiuS, eveu IT
there WASH amy postage on them. " heh
he Was rich he womb have "A library worth
showing HIS wiie had no social inter
Course with her f.Ieuds aud E,Ighbois;
visits took ti,ne, and II She attended paities,
she would lie ,xpectrd To gave them. ih'tt
would no: do, so size ieialned AT huhe,
mind and body absorbed III The one para
mount iGea. Did ei,iei feel lingering
desire 20 listen 10 the nules of some lauded
singer, or the eloquence of i distinguished
lecturer, the y, ice OF tickets OF admission
sof,eued disappointment, aud made the
sacrifice seem less.
The Grovucr children we're never permit
ted to leave the dusty, crowded city Tor
dav in the woods with their companions
The fare back aud foith was an item not
to be disregarded aud an excursion of this
nature was Inevitably atteId.d with more
or l.ss tom clothes. Money was always tie
mothers iu6ucement promise of three
cents each made the lutte menbear tue 90
pr,vation hcroically. All, nature is IA better
teacher tlau "a mother whose idol Is gold
One opens tho heart to kindly influences,
makes il more susceptible u genial impress
sious, auickens brothefly love, aud brings
the creature nearer the Creator the other
blunts the senslbiiities, chokes the springs
Of beuevoieuce, clogs the aspiring spirit,