The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-08-29
The Hole in the Floor.


Susan, his wife, was to amass property.
1t had been their aim since their welded
existence, which now counted fifteen
years, and was still cherished as the dear
est wish Of their hearts. No change was
made except it would hasten the desired
contamination of this long nutured hope ;
no outlay was ventured upon unless it
promised existence in the boarding of
money. Not a days respite had the one
from unceasing application 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 grasp
for property, it would be strange had
their children escaped the infection.
Their little faces frightened ut the sight
of a penny, not that it would procure
sweetmeats, but because 1t would add an
other to their store OF coins; and the
small hand grasped it with rs instructive
and keen a pleasure rs IN aged miser
clutches his gold. The oft.rcpcatcd pa
rental injunction "A penny saved is a
penny carncd' fell upon the childish
ears, but childish wisdom applied the
maxim; the confectioner and fruit-vend-
cl were rarely called upon by the young
Growers seed was taking root.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grower had nothing to
give away. Poverty was rudely repulscd
misfortune, in the garb OF dependency,
met with rebuke instead of sympathy
,orrow, in the persons Of mourning
widows and fatherlcss children, vainiy
sought words of consolation and help
ing hand; the kindly voice of pity, and
the whisperings of charity, were unhear.l
by ears inaccessible save to the hints of
frugality. the suggestions Of economy, or
the promptings Of prudence. All, little
10 the unfortunate gain from those max
ing haste to be rich!
Reading, the cheapest of luxurics, Mr..
Grower thought too expensive to be ell
couragcd. Books cost money, and news
papers couldn't be had for nothing, even
If there wasn't any postage on them.
When he was rich he would have H.
brary worth showing. His wife had no
social intercourse with her friends and
neighbors, visits took time, and if she at
tended parties, she would be expected to
give them. That would not do: so she
remained at home, mind and body alb
sorbed in the one paramount idea. Did
either feel lingering desire to listen to
the notes of some lauded singer, or the
eloqucnce of a distinguished lecturer, the
price of tickets Of admission softened
disappointment and made the sacrifice
seem less.
The Grower children were never per-
mittcd to leave the dusty, crowded CITY
tor i dav in the woods with their com
panions. The fare back and forth was
not to be disrcgardcd; and an excursion
OF this nature was inevitably attended
| with more or less torn clothes. Money
was always the mothers inducemcnt; a
promise of three or four cents each made
the little men bear the privation heroic
ally. All, nature is a better teacher than
Il mother whose idol is gold! One opens
the heart to kindly Influence, makes it
more susceptible to genial impressions,
quickens brotherly love, and brings the
creature nearer the Creator; the other
blunts the scnsib;itics, cnokcs the
springs of bcnevolcnee, clogs the aspir-
ing spirit, making it inscnsiblc to a loft
icr sentiment than the love OF gain. Are
there no other Mrs. Growers?
None of the family attended churrh,
for pew-rent was an item, and Il minister's
tax not an unimportant consideration. II
preaching and good example cost moth
ing, they would have availed themselves
OF their benefits, but as it was, parents
and children were "a law unto them
selves" Their living was of the plainest
possible kind, and quantity was studied
as closely as quality. None of she Grow
ncrs were afflicted with gout or dyspepsia
if their palates were never RECALLED by
dainty dishes.
Mr.. Seth and Mrs. Susan were threat
cned with a dire calamity, in tho shape of
a visit from an elderly relative who
had troubled them but once since their
marriage. A letter had been received,
avowing his intention to become better
acquainted with his nephew and niece
They knew little about him, save that he
was childless old man, rather odd in his
ways, and burdeucd with but small por-
ton of this worlds goods. Yet this much
was certain : his stay with them would be
attended with great Inconvenience, and
expensive-and the last reflection was the
most annoying of all.
His appearance was not an event of re-
1oicing on tho part of the host and hostess
the respectablc-looking old gentlemen
missed the hearty welcome he had PROM
ised himself. They were polite, but not
cordial, attentive, but cold and distant,
meeting his familiar advances with that
indifferent reserve SO chilling aud dis.
couraging. The children hal been sent
off to bed as soon as tea was over, and the
three sat s,iilly about the cold stove, Mrs.
Grower glancing now and then to the
clock on the mantlcpicc.
"Perhaps your uncle would like to re-
tirc," she observed to Mr.. Seth.
Conversation had tagged for some min
utes; it was hard doing all the talking,
and Uncle Abel approved the suggestion,
though it was scarcely eight O'clock.
~ must confess to fatigue" he said
"1'm not young as l was once, and exer-
ton tires me. I've been accustomed to
sleeping in warm room. If it won't be
too much trouble, I'd like a fire kindled
for me; old blood feels the chilly nights"
he added, apologetically.
MIR. Seth said, Oh, nor and MR.. Su-
san said, "Ccrtainly not!" but any body
could seethat their thoughts widely d.
verged from their words.
The fire was made, and the nephew
took small hand-lamp to light Uncle
Able to his chamber.
II should prefer this" said the latter,
taking larger one from the shelf near
him, 'if you have no objections. It holds
more oil, l sec, and sometimes when
am restless and can't sleep, read to in.
duce drowsiness. It won't incommode
you very much, l hope2"
Seth said, No, indeedv' and Susan,
mot in the least!" but mentally their
replies were different. Uncle Abel and
the largest lamp went up stairs; husband
and wife closed the doors for connu-
bal conference.
SWELL" said the niece.
"What do you think?" said the
nephew.