Money

Money is a major issue throughout the story. The Pollits have too many children and not enough money. Henrietta receives $8,000 per year from her father. There is no mention of Sam's salary from the university. The family pays only $50 per month in rent. The house in in serious disrepair and in needs of improvements but none have been made even though Sam talks about painting and other things. Henny believes that it is Sam's job to keep up the house in that respect.

The children wear clothes that are ragged and ill fitting. This applies most to Louisa. As the oldest, Louisa does not fit into hand-me-downs. She is too large for the clothes from the other children and too small to inherit any of Henny's old clothes, even if that was a possibility. Louisa often walks around barefooted although it is not clear if it is from...