WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 15

 

?

‘Yes, increasing very rapidly,” replied Claire,
with animation. ‘The fact is, he is going to get
rich. Do you know that his profit on to-day’s sales
amounted to fifty dollars ?”’

‘So much ?”’ said Edith, yet in a tone that showed
no surprise or particular interest in the matter.

“‘ Fifty dollars a day,’’ resumed Claire, ‘ counting
three hundred week-days in the year, gives the
handsome sum of fifteen thousand dollars in the
year. I'd be satisfied with as much in five years.”

There was more feeling in the tone of his voice
than he had meant to betray. His young wife lifted
her eyes to his face, and looked at him with a won-
der she could not conceal.

‘“‘ Contentment, dear,” said she, in a gentle, sub-
dued, yet tender voice, ‘‘is great gain. We have
enough, and more than enough, to make us happy.
Natural riches have no power to fill the heart’s most
yearning affections; and how often do they take to
themselves wings and fly away.”

‘¢ Knough, dear!” replied Edward Claire, smiling.
**Q no, not enough, by any means. Five hundred
dollars a year is but a meagre sum. What does it
procure for us? Only these two rooms and the
commonest necessaries of life. We cannot even af-
ford the constant service of a domestic.”’

“Why, Edward! what has come over you? Have
I complained ?”’

“No, dear, no. But think you I have no ambi-
tion to see my wife take a higher place than this ?”

‘“‘Ambition! Do not again use that word,” said

ith, ‘very earnestly. “‘ What has love to do with
ambition? What have we to do with the world and