THE POOR WOODCUTTER. 11
syeh feeling was experienced a week before,
when he paid three dollars for concert
tickets, nor when, a few days previously,
he expended ten dollars in porcelain orna-
ments for the pier-table and mantel.

But it was in liberality of this kind that
the poor feeling had its origin. Mr. Ed-
gar found that money had been going too
freely, and that the purse-strings must be
held with a tighter hand. Too suddenly
upon this resolution came-the announce-
ment that more wood was needed. —

“Tl get only a quarter of a cord,” said
Mr. Edgar, as he walked along toward
his office; “that, surely, ought to carry
us through the cold weather.”

But on reflection, seeing that it was only
the first week in February, and that fire
would have to be-kept up in-the stove for
nearly three months, Mr. Edgar rather
doubted the ability of a quarter of a cord
of wood to afford the amount of warmth
required. This conclusion of his mind was
evidenced by a sigh. Instead of going di-