Year: 1879

thlng TO his wife about their expenses. He
therefore came home one evening earlier
than usual, and proceeded to begin the OBJ
noxious task.


He sat in the easy-chair by the fire. with
the slippers on his feet that she had worked
for him, and with her pretty face smiling
opposite to him, and felt that it was indeed
difficult TO run the risk of vexing her.


"Ada, my darling" he said, al do not
know whether [ shall dissipate any pleasant
dreams, but must talk to you little while
tonight about our resources"


DON'T Charlie, it will make you misera-
bic. | can see it by your face, and why
should we have our evening spoiled 7"


l don't think it will spoil the evening,
but perhaps it will prevent sorrow after
wards. | told you, dear, that / was not at
all rich, did not 2 want to tell you now
that, though my business is increasing, find
it very uphill work, and it must be so for a
few years. think it can be made a really
good one, but we must not take a pound out
Of it more than we are absolutely obliged"


"But, Charlie, am not extravagaut. /
have not bought new dress since we were
married"


"My darling, I think you manage admira-
bly,. DO not for a moment suppose that |
am blaming you. / only want you to un-
derstand that it is necessary to be careful
Some men, know, never tell their wives
anything about their affairs, but think it
right to take you into my confidence so far.
Dear, if it were possible for us TO live upon
thirty shilings week, we ought 10 do so"


But that is not possible, you know,
Charlie However, / will do the best |
can. am disappointed to hear that the
business is not better. You must try to in-
crease it, and promise that ] will be very
careful"


"Thank you, darling. Now let us have
some music and forget our circumstances"


Months passed away, and Mr.. Leighton
began to look anxious and worn; his ex-
penses were heavy, and everything made
them more so. He had the Joy of welcom.
ing TO his household little stranger that
brought a large amount of love and not
little care with her. The worst of it was,
that Ada was very i'll, and it took four
months for her to recover. He got quite
used to seeing a couple of nurses whenever
he came home, and a doctor nearly every
day, and when they all told him how neces-
sary it was that his wife should take plenty
of nourishing things, of course he said, " Get
everything for her regardless of expense"


When, at last, she was able to take her
place again at the table, and they had sort





Charlie you will soon get quite an old man /;
| declare there are gray hairs on your head"


Mrs Leighton did not get strong as quickly
as they wished, and it was decided that she
must go away to sea. She could not go alone,
however, and it was out of the question for
her husband to accompany her but he paid
the expenses Of a companion, and he sent
her away quite satisfied.


At the end of two months she came home
perfectly restored, and with the baby so
healthy that she was the admiration of all
beholders.


Mr.. Leighton waited until his wife had
been some weeks at home, and then he again
broached the subject of their expenses.


al am so grieved to trouble you about it,
dearest, but indeed l can scarcely meet my
bills, and unless something is done l am
afraid that ! cannot keep on"


"Charlie, have told you before that you
must increase your income. We cannot
lessen our expenses and it is too bad of you
to think that the cure for the evil is to come
in that way. Why do you not enlarge your
business 2"


"That is more easily said than done,
dear"


"But other men do it How many have
known who go on well Why don't you do
as they do ?"


think l do the very best | can, but
will try and add another department"


No one on the premises where his bust
ness was carried on worked so hard as Mr..
Leighton. Already he was doing as much
as any two men ought to have done, but
after this conversation with his wife, he de-
termined to work harder still-day and
night if necessary, rather than she should
feel that he was denying her anything.
He found that the new efforts he made were
successful, and this induced him to put
forth all his powers and by the very force of
will and work to accomplish wonders. He
gained this end. In year from the time
of this talk with his wife his business had
improved so much that it became no longer
necessary to trouble her with hints of econ
omy. She could travel by first-class style
and patronize frst-class shops.


But one day, when Ada was admiring some
new curtains that she just bought, messen-
ger came to her.


"Mr. leighton has been taken i'll in the
office-will you come directly 2"


In an agony of grief and suspense, Mrs
Leighton hastened to the side Of her hus-
band She loved him most fondly, and
when she saw him lying before her like
corpse she felt as if the world had no bright
ness for her.


go doctor, is he dead ?"


"No; but he is in a very precarious state"


let us take him home, that | may nurse
him."


at will not be safe to move him at pres
ent; but by-and-by we shall see."
"What is it that is the matter with him ?"
"Overwork," said the doctor shortly; and
Adas heart sank within her.


After twenty-four hours of terrible anx-
iety, they were able to take him home, and
place him in his own bed-to die.
The doctor did not at first give up all
hope but when few days passed, and the
patient had second seizure, he knew what
the end would be.


Before that came, however, there were
few lucid moments, when the husband and
wife spoke TO each other.


"Are you better, Charlie ? Will God
spare you TO me- after all :"


81 think not, darling. But do not weep
for me. shall be glad to rest, for am very
tired And you will not be quite unprovided
for. The last six months have been very
productive. Thank God have been able
to put you out OF the reach of want"


al know that it is hard work that has
robbed you of your life, and am sure that
you never would have striven as you have
done, if ! had not urged you to it."


at was just this, dear" he said 1--WE
wanted always to go first-class, but there was
only money enough to pay for second-class
without superhuman exertions to get more"


ayes, dear, but you never cared which
class it was. 1t was only | who was so fool
ish viii you forgive me Charlie"


Darling, do not blame you. The spirit
of the times had got into you, that was all"


"But we should have been quite as happy
If we had taken lower position. We might
have kept each other then, and now"


She broke down utterly and could say no
more, but the stricken man managed TO lay
his hand caressingly on her head.


"God bless you, darling, and let us NEE.
again some day and finish together the life
that we have begun here"


These were Charles Leighton's last words.
He soon became unconscious again, and re-
mained so until he died.-Chrisiian Weekly.


AT a mansion notorious for its scanty
fare gentleman was inquiring of the gar
dener about dog he had lately given to the
laird. The gardener showed him lank
greyhound on which the gentleman said