They had been married but a few months when Alice found he was cutting his garments according to his daily supply of cloth. Not a shred was he likely to save up from the cuttings for an extra garment for a rainy day to come. "Albert," she said to him one evening, "do you know we ought to be laying up a little something?" Albert looked up from his paper and waited for his wife to explain. "I think I heard you tell Mr. Greenough that you had no money--that you had paid out your last dollar this very afternoon?" "Exactly, my dear; but you know to-morrow is pay-day." "And you have spent your last month's earnings?" "Yes." A brief silence ensued, which Albert broke. "Come, Alice, you've got something on your mind. Out with it--I'll listen." And then Alice, in a smiling, pleasant way, went on to tell her husband that they ought to be laying up something. Albert smiled in turn, and asked how such a thing could be done when it cost all he earned to live. "You earn three dollars and a half a day," said Alice. "Yes." "George Summers earns only three dollars a day." "You are right." "And yet he lives and does not run in debt." "But he is forced to deny himself many little comforts which we enjoy." "And the one great comfort which we might enjoy we are throwing away." "How is that, Alice." "The comfort of a little sum in the bank, which we should see growing toward the answering of future wants." Albert could not see how it was to be done; and Alice feared that a lesson of empty words might be wasted. She knew that his ambition needed a substantial prop. Never, of his own accord, would he commence to save by littles. He did not estimate money in that way. Had some kind fairy dropped into his hand a five-twenty bond for five hundred dollars, he would have put it away gladly; and with such a nest-egg in the start, he might have sought to add to the store. But he could see no hope in a dollar bill, and much less could he discover the nucleus of a grand saving in a fifty-cent piece. With Alice it was different. From her meager earnings as school-teacher she had in less than five years, saved up three hundred dollars; and the first saving she had put by was a silver dime. She knew what little by little could do, and she was determined to show it to her husband. She must be patient and persevering, and these qualities she possessed in an eminent degree. It was to be the grand undertaking of the first years of her married life, and to do it she would bend every available energy. She planned that if possible she would get hold of that fifty cents every day; or, if she could not do that she would do the best she could. Generous, frank, loyal, and loving, Albert was an easy prey to the wiles of a wife loyal and loving as himself. He gave her money when she asked for it; and she asked for it when she thought he had any to give.