The Democratic advocate., 1871-08-10
selstt Story.
WHAT SHALL 1T PROFIT .


its place on the black marble mantel of
the pretty little dining room, where
fresh boquets OF roses exhaled perfume
as if each separate pink blossom had
been crucible of sweetness, and n
noisy cry Of "Mamma, he's coming ! m
is coming!" filled the house from three
or four rosy little mouths.
Nina Melton, the eagerest child of
them all, ran to the door, aud stood
there, smiling and lovely, with the little
ones cliugiug round her skirts, to wei.
come her husbands coming footsteps,
the beau idcai of wifely pride aud hap.
piness.
Why, Harry" she said, as he came
up the steps with kiss for little Min,
and chuck under the chin for johnny,
and word Of greeting for them ali,
what makes you look so grave?"
Nothing, child, only I'm tired and
want my dinner.'
The dinner was ready--a pair. of
brown little chickens, with Parisienne
soup first, and bread pudding after.
wards; for Nina Melton was as notable
housekeepcr as any in the land. But
Harry Melton's face did not soften 10
its rigid lines as the meal progressed to
a close.
Nina was helping her youngest child
to its little plate of pudding, when Que
Of the servants came softly in and whisp.
cred something to her.
every WE'LL" said Mrs. Melton care.
lessly; "give her the other bundle.
Harry, can you let me have five dol.
lars?"
"What for?"
Mrs. Melton looked little surprised.
1t was a question he was not 10 the
habit of asking.
"To pay Mrs. Barbour for sowing"
Nina, that woman charges you too
much," he said sharply.
81 do pay her little more than Jane
Callahan charges, but you must remem.
ber, dear, she's widow with six little
children"
I'm not bound to support her and
her children"
"No, Harry, but"
Pay her for what she has done. he
said, tossing a fve dollar bill unsra.
ciously across tho table "but don't
give her any more. Jane Callahan sews
cheaper"
Mrs. Melton made no further remon.
STRANGE, but obeyed in silence.
Charley Miller is coming here this
evening"" she said few minutes after.
wards, "to get Johnny's old suit of
clothes. Mrs. Miller was so thankful
when l told her she could have them"
"She can't have them" interrupted
MIR. Melton. Jones tells me he gets
half price for anything of that sort. at
store on Chatham street. He eaye
me the card, and | shall send for them
TO come up here and take away all
our old clothes. We must cconomize,
Nina"
But Mrs. Miller is SO poor 7"
80 shall we be, il we 20 on in this
reckless way. / tell you, Nina, I've
been thinking seriously over this matter
TO day. I've lost eighteen hundred dol.
lars through Corbitt's failure, and |
cant afford to keep half the paup.rs in
New York. There's old Aunt Dorcas
living rent free at the farm. I don't
know why should support Aunt Dor.
cas-. Mortimer offered me three hun.
'dred year for the place yesterday, and
shall write to tell the old lady to turn
out !"
Harry, she's eighty years old, and
very poor. Surely you would not"
Now, Nina, you are talking like
woman, aud very silly one at that.
Suppose she lives to be ninety, am to
keep on losing the rent of the farm lust
because she has taken a childish notion
that she can't live anywhere else.
IT'S very little to you, Harry" softly
pleaded his wife, land great deal to herr
Mr.. Melton bit his lip. "There." he
said little petulantly, II might have
known It would have ended like this if
tried to reason with you. Women
cant be logical If they tryp
II this is the way you are feeling.
Harry" said Nina, .'I'm afraid you will
disapprove Of what l venture to do To-.
day MIR. Liscomhe was here to ask
about the rent of your little store on
Sixth Avenue. It was for that lame
brother Of his, an honest, hard, working
young shoemaker, who was very ambi.
In n