The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-12
The Hole in the Floor.

and was still cherished as the dearest wish
of their hearts. No change was made ex-
cept it would hasten the desired consum-
nation Of this long-nurtured hope; no out
lay was ventured upon unless it promised
assistance in the boarding Of money. Not
days respite had the one from unceas-
ing 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 grasping
for property, it would be strange had
their children escaped the infection, Their
little faces frightened at the sight of a
penny, not that it would procure sweet
meats, but because it would add another
to their store Of coins; and the small hand
grasped it with as instructive and keen a
| pleasure as an aged miser clutches his
| gold. The oft-repeated parental injunc-
ton, "A penny saved is a penny earned;"
fell upon the childish ears, but childish
wisdom applied the maxim; the confec-
toner and fruit-vendcr were rarely called
upon by the young Grovncrs-the seed
was taking root.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grovncr had nothing to
give away. Poverty, in the form of rag
ged mendicant, was rudely repulsed; mis-
fortune, in the garb Of dependency, met
with rebuke instead of sympathy; sorrow,
in the persons of mourning widows and
tatherless children, vainly sought words Of
consolation. and helping hand; the kind
ly voice of pity, and the whisperings of
charity, were unheard by ears inaccessible
save to the hints Of frugality, the sugges-
tions of economy, or the promptings of
prudence. All, little do the unfortu-
nate gain from those making haste to be
rich!
Reading, the cheapest of all luxuries,
Mr.. Grower thought too expensive to be
encouraged. 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 library
worth showing. His wife had no social
intercourse with her friends and neigh
bors; visits took time, and if she attended
parties, she would be expected to give
them. That would not do, SO she remained
at home, mind and body absorbed in the
one paramount idea. Did either feel
lingering desire to listen to the notes of
some lauded singer, or the eloquence of a
distinguished lecturer, the price of tickets
of admission softened disappointment, and
made the sacrifice seem less.
The Grower children were never per-
mitted to leave the dusty, crowded city
for a day in the woods with their COM
panions. The fare back and forth was an
item not to be disrcgarded; and an excur-
sion Of this nature was inevitably attended
with more or less torn clothes Money
was always the mothers inducement; a
promise of three cents each made the little
men bear the deprivation heroically. All,
nature is a better teacher than mother
whose idol is gold One opens the heart
tokindly influences, makes it more sus-
ceptible to genial impressions, quick ems
brotherly love, and brings the creature
nearer the Creator the. other blunts. the
sensities, chokes the springs of benevo-
lence, clogs the aspiring spirit, making it
insensible to loftier sentiment than the
love Of gain. Are there no other Mrs.
Growers?
None Of the family attended church, for
pew-rent was an item, and a minister tax
not an. unimportant consideration. If
preaching and good example cost nothing,
they would have availed themselves of their
benefits, but as twas, parents and chill
dren were "a law to themselves" Their
living was of the plainest possible kind,
and quantity was studied as closely as
quality. None of the Growers were
afflicted with gout or dyspepsia, if their
palates were never regaled by dainty
Dishes
Mr.. Seth and Mrs. Susan was threatened
with dire calamity, in the shape of a
visit from an elderly relative, who had
troubled them but once since their mar
riage. A letter had been received, avow-
ing his intention to become better ac-
quainted with his nephew and neice.
They knew little about him., save that he
was a childless old man, rather odd in his
ways, and burdened with buta small por-
tion of this worlds goods. Yet this much was
certain; his stay with them would be at
tended with great inconvenience and ex-
pense-and the last reflection was the
most annoying of all.
His appearance was not an event of re-
joicing on the part of the host and
hostess; the respectable looking old gen.
tleman missed the hearty welcome he had
promised himself, They were polite, but