“

WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. TT

 

other side, Edith. Only four hundred dollars a year,
instead of six hundred and fifty.”’

‘‘T feel it as no temptation. The latter sum, in
the present case, is by far the better salary, for it
will give us higher sources of enjoyment. Whatare
millions of dollars, and a disquiet mind, compared
to a few hundreds, and sweet peace? If you remain
with Jasper, an unhappy spirit will surely steal into
our dwelling—if you take, for the present, your old
place with Mr. Melleville, how brightly will each
morning’s sun shine in upon us, and how calmly will
the medion evening draw around her curtains of re-

ose !”’ |

Edith had always possessed great influence over
her husband. He loved her very tenderly ; and was
ever loth to do any thing to which she made oppo-
sition. She«was no creature of mere impulse—of
weak caprices—of captious, yet unbending will. If
she opposed her husband in any thing, it was on the
ground of its non-agreement with just principles ;
and she always sustained her positions with the
clearest and most. direct modes of argumentation.
Not with elaborate reasonings, but rather in the de-
claration of things self-evident—the quick percep-
tions of a pure, truth-loving mind. How inestima-
ble the blessing of such a wife!

“No doubt you have the better reason on your
side, Edith,” replied her husband, his manner very
much subdued. ‘ But it is difficult for me to unclasp
my hand to let fall therefrom the natural good which
I can see and estimate, for the seemingly unreal
and unsubstantial good that, to your purer vision,
looms up so imposingly.”’

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