Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-05-31
"wHAT SHALL H PROFITl''
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

The clock had just struck six from
its place on the black marble man
tie of the pretty little dining-room,
where fresh bouquets of roses ex-
hailed perfume as if each separate
pink blossom had been a crucible of
sweetness, and noisy cry Of ''Mam-
ma, he's comingl papa is comingl"
filed 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
little ones clinging round her skirts,
to welcome her husbands coming
footsteps, the beau ideal of wifely
pride and happiness.
'sWhy, Harry" she said, as he
came up the steps, with a kiss for
little Mn, and chuck under the
chin for Johnny, and word of
greeting for them all, "what makes
you-lOOk so grave?"
Nothing child; only Pm tired and
want my dinner"
The dinner was ready-a pair of
brown little chickens, with q Pari-
sienne soup first, and q bread pud-
ding afterWard; for Nina Melton
was as notable a housekeeper as any
in the land. But Harry Melton's
face did not soften in its rigid lines
as the meal progressed to q close.
Nina was helping her youngest
child to its little plate Of pudding,
when one of the servants came soft
ly in and whispered something to
her.
''Verv WE'LL" said Mrs. Melton
carelessly; "giYe her the other bun
die. Harry, can you let me have
five dollars?"
"What for?"
''Nrs. Melton looked a little sur
prised. 1t was a question he was
not in the habit of asking.
"To pay Mrs. Barbour for sew
ing.n
too mueh," he said sharply.
''I do pay her q little more than
Jane Callahan charges, but you must
remember, dear, she's a widow,
with six little children"
''Tm not bound to support her and
her children"
"No, Harry; but"
''Pay her for what she has done, u
he said, tossing a five dollar bill un.
graciously across the table; "but
don't give her any more. Jane Cal
| lahan sews cheaper"
Mrs. Melton made no further re
monstrance, but obeyed in silence.
"Charley Miller is coming here
this evening"" she said, = few min
utes afterWard, "to get Johnny
old suit of clothes. Mrs. Miller wa
so thankful when l told her sh,
could have them"
''She can't have them" !" interrupt
ed Mr.. Melton. "Jones tells me b,
gets half price for anything of tha
sort, at a store on Chatham street
He gave me the card, and shall
send for them to come up here anC
| take away all our old clothes. w
must econOmize, Nina"
'EBut Mrs. Miller is so pOori"
$50 shall we be, if we go on il
this reckless way. / tell you, Nina
I've been thinking seriously owe
this matter to-day. Eve lost eigh
teen hundred dollars through Cor
bits failure, and l can't afford I,
keep half the paupers in New York
There's old Aunt Dorcas lying ren
| Tree 81 the Iarm. OOn Know m
1 should support Aunt DOrcas. Nor
timer offered me three hundred
year for the place Yesterday, and
shall write to tell the old lady t
turn outp'
'sHarry, she's eighty years old
and very poor. Surely you woul
not"
''NOw, Nina, you are talking lik
4 woman, and q very silly one 8
that. Suppose she lives to be nine
ty, am l to keep on losing the reI
of the farm just because she has t.
ken a childish notion she can't liV
anywhere else?"
"It's very little to you, Harry,
softly pleaded his wife, 'Eand a gre,
deal to her"
Mr.. bit his lip. "There,