The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-03
AFTER THE FIRE.


The fire, from which we date in the
family, II being the great event therein
for years, seemed at the Time 1t oc-
CURED, the climax of series OF mistor-
tunes that had been falling for five years
upon our devoted heads.
| First, we lost dear father, who left
| the family already mentioned-namely
| m NINA, Meta, Freddie, and myself.
Meta was but fourteen when father
died, twelve, and Freddie but three
wears of age. There was no money for
Us after the business was closed, and
| mamma thankfully accepted an otfer OF
| ner Uncle Gordon's to be his house
keeper, and 80 secure home Tor all oil
us.
Such nome! Uncle Gordon Crofts
was a man nearly seventy, strong and
vigorous, with most ungOvernable tenn
per, miserly and suspicious, VINO nau
lived alone for about forty years. What
sudden spasm OF generosity made MIN
open the doors of his Wretched, tumble
down old house to us, we never knew;
but certainly he repented the arrange
ment as soon as his proposal was ac-
cepted.
Not one meal passed our lips that we
were not reminded of its cost; not an
article of our poor clothing was re-
neWed without deep groans over our eX-
trayagance; and we were put out al
once-Meta and myself-to learn trades.
Il being apprentlced TO miIllner, Meta
| TO a bo0k-Dlndef.
know now that, scant as our wages
were, they really covered the expenses
of our poor food and worse lodging. AS
for poor mamma, with all the house
work, sewing, washing and cooking
uDon her hands, surely she earned the
little she spent.
| But, in spite of our poverty and hard
work, Meta blossomed into beautiful,
modest and tender girl. l was never
even pretty.
When Brent Ellis discovered Meta's
attractions, she was eighteen, still
working as book-binder in place OF
business which Breuts father owned.
| Old John Ellis, after stormlng and rag
ing like maniac at the presumption OF
one of the 'hands" daring to be suffi-
ciently attractive TO win the love OF the
son and heir Of his magnifcence, dis
missed Meta at an hours notice.
| AS he owned the only book-binding
establishment in the town, and Meta
knew no other trade, affairs looked black
| enough for us.
Brent himself was true as steel, and
wanted Meta to marry him at once.
But, in spite of her gentleness, Meta
had some pride, and refused to enter a
family where she was not welcome.
Mother, too, at this crisis, informed
Brent that his visits had better cease,
and Meta did not speak one word OF dis
sent.
| | stormed, of course. / always do
storm when | am angry. But nobody
| ever came round to my opinion, no mat
ter how | raved--and John Ellis GER
tainly did not. 70 be sure, he did not
hear me, or that might have made some
difference.
Midwinter found us in this strait.
Meta out OF employment. helping mother
about the house, and patiently bearing
| Uncle Gordon's protests against her
idleness and fine lady airs; L trimming G
hats, and meekIy handing over my wages
to our uncle; Freddie still at the town
school, but with an apprenticeship loom
ing in the spring.
In January Uncle Gordon was taken
lill-the first serious sickness of his life
He would nave no docJor until absolute.
ly forced to cali one in by increasing
/ pain ami weakness, and when the long.
delayed examination was over IL proved
to have been made too late.
In lust one month from his first pain
| our uncle died, leaving brief will, con-
lerrIng all his property, the house in.
Guided, upon our mother, his "well-be.
loved niece, Sarah Norton"
But where was the property? Not a
shilling was deposited in the bank, not
an inch Of real estate was held in his
name, save the miserable piece of land
: upon which the house stood, aud WhicD
! barely yielded vegetables for the table.
| - do do n
: inside out, but not coin rewarded eur
search. -. s.
Finally, we sadly concluded that the
misery we had seen, the lamentations
we had heard, were the result Of real,
doWnrighJ poverty, and not the mere
preteuses OF u miser. .. ..... -..
And we struggled along somehow,
motuer sewing little, Meta doing
lhouse-work, anu still AZ the milliner's.
We did not slarve. That is the record
of the next TOUR months-a strugF1 ~
mere bread, and the saving of .c.II.i ay
lstence, nothing more. and, to CAP tn,
climax, came the ra
IL was light in June-a clear. star
ilep, Mght-aud l, though weary enough
,wGs sleepless. Meta lay by my side
wakelui IS myself, and tolH me, in sot
: whispers, that she had met ner love
i that day, when ON some household Ell
! lrand, and he had urged her sorely t
, marry him, though his father had nc
t relented.
: II don't know but l would" l saiC
4 I"Atter all, he is man, and must b
/, able to care tor you somehow. This lii
t is killing you" ....
e And, as spoke, Meta cried, II sme
!, smokeV ....
i "smell ltp' cried, starting up.
It see itw .....s
= There it was, coming in at the crack
G of the worn-out door, little threads ID
a hrst, but filling the room rapidly.
L., We caught up some clothing, an
Z rushed to the door. Is we opened ]
u the flames burst out on The landing al
D. staircase, forcing us to retreat.
ID Mother and Freddie slept in rooms b
yond ours ON the other side, and v
flushed across to them. 1t took but
as moment to rouse them, and we all fol
lie scrambled, halI-dressed, from Freddie
h. window to Il shed, and SO to The yard.
Al BY this time the neighbors we
is wakened, and the houses about us we
In glowing in the flames shooting up fro
r. our old house to tue sky. 4.f.l
ed Fancy, il you can, the group we form
es as we stood huddled togetner in /