10 THE POOR WOODCUTTER.

 

wood ought to have lasted all winter. Per-
kins says he doesn’t burn but one cord in
his air-tight stove from November to April.”

“T don’t know how it is,” said Mrs. Ed-
gar, a little fretfully; “Tm sure the nursery
is never too warm.’

“It's wasted by the servants in kindling
fires in the range and heater, I suppose,”
remarked Mr. Edgar, as he closed the door
after him, and went away.

Mr. Edgar happened to feel just at this
time, particularly poor. His income was
not large, yet ample, if dispensedawith pro-
per care, for the comfortable support of his
family. A rather freer use of money than
was prudent, all things considered, had
drained his purse so low as to bring on, as
just said, a feeling of poverty;-and the
thought of having to pay out four or five
dollars for wood, when he had believed that
there was fuel enough in the cellar to last
until spring opened, was, in consequence,
most unpleasant. It seemed little better
than throwing so much money away. No