The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-01-30
What Shall 1t Profit"

The clock had just struck six from
its place on the black marble mantel
of the pretty little diningroom, where
fresh bouquets Of roses exhaled per
fume as if each separate pink blossom
had been crucible of sweetness, and
a noisy cry of "Mama, he's coming!
Papa is coming!" filled the house,
from three or four rosy little mouths.
Nina Melton, the eagerest child Of
them all, ran to the door, and stood
there, smiling and lovely, with the il.
tie ones cling round her skirts, to vel
come her husbands coming footsteps,
the beau ideal Of witely pride and hap
plness.
"Why, Harry" she said, as he came
up the steps, with a kiss for little Mn,
aud chuck under the chin for john
ny, and u word of greeting for them
all what makes you SO grave?"
Nothing, child; only I'm tired,
and want my dinner"
The dinner was ready-a pair of
! brown little chickens, with Pari-
! senue soup first, and bread pudding
afterwards; for Nina Melton was Us
notable house-keeper rs any in the
land.
But Harry Melton's face did not soft
en- in its rigid lines as the meal pro.
| gressed to close.
Nina was helpi'.g her youngest child
to its little plate Of pudHing, when one
Of the servants came softly in and
whispered something to her.
Every we'll" said Mrs. Melton care.
lessly give her the other bundle.
Harry, can you let me have the five
dollars :?
"What for?"
Mrs. Melton looked little surprised.
1t was u question he was not III the
habit Of asking.
$50 pay Ms. Barbour, for sewing"
"Nina, that woman charges YOU too
much" he said, sharply.
81 do pay her Il little more than
Jane Callahan charges, but you must
remember, dear, she's a widow, with
six little children"
Pm not bound to support her and
her children"
mo, Harry, but"
"Pay her for what she has DONE" he
said, tossing IA five. dollar bill unngra-
ciously across the table; but don't
give her any more. Jane Callahan
sews cheaper"
Mrs. Melton made no further remon-
/ STRANGE, but oheyeG in silence.
Charley Miller is coming here this
evening" she said, Il few minutes after,
wards, Ito get Juhnny $ old suit of
clothes. Mrs. Miller was so thankful
when told her she could have them
| -"
"She can't have them," interrupted
Mr.. Melton. Jones tells me he gets
half price for anything of that sorl,
at store in Chatham Street He
gave me the card, and | shall send for
them to come up here and take away
all our old clothes. We must econo.
mise, Nina"
But Mrs. Miller is roor !"
$50 shall we be, it we go on in this
way. | tell you, Nina, have been
! thinking seriously over this matter to-
day. I've lu.t eighteen hundred dol
lars through Corbitt's failure, aud /
can not afford to keep half the pau
pers in New York. There's old Aunt
Dorcas living rent free at the farm.
don't know why | should support
Aunt Dorcas. Mortimer Offered me
three hundred a 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, and very silly one at that
Suppose she lives To be ninety, am /
TO keep on losing the rent Of the farm,
Just because she has taken a childish
notion that she can't live anywhere
elseF'
Its very little to you, Harry"
softly pleaded his wife, "aDd a great
deal to her"