The Osceola times., 1881-01-22
WHAT MRS. IRWIN WAS THANKFUL FOR.
ny MARY GRACE nAiPIxE.

Richard Irwin tOlled Slowly ana wear
ily up the two flights of stairs which led
| 90 the poor abode, whose scanty furniture
had grown still more scanty cs want and
poverty pressed more and more hardly
upon him.
But poor as it was, everything was rs
neat as his pretty wife Marys busy hands
could make it, who turned upon him the
same brave, cheerful smile with which
she always welcomed him, though her
heart sank as she saw the gloom which
shrouded his face.
"Its of no use, Mary" he said sinking
down into chair. "lve walked the
streets all the morning, and there is no
work 10 be had; men are discharging
their old hands instead of taking new.
| I've had no work for three months now,
with the exception Of an odd job or so.
! Winter is coming on; all my hardly earn
ed savings are gone; and what is TO be-
come of us is more than know!"
at is always darkest before the dawn,
Richard
That's what you have been saying for
| a long time" was the gloomy response;
"but the night keeps growing darker.
wouldn't care so much if it wasn't for you
and the baby; but to see you growing so
pale and hollow-eyed, and to know that
Freddie is neither comfortably fed or
| clothed drives me almost wild"
The Young wife laid her hand softly
upon the bowed head of the speaker.
'"God is good, my husband. He will
not forsake those who put their trust in
Him, and do the best they can"
81 sometimes doubt whether He cares
| much for what is done here. Ii don't
| look as if he did There is Tom Stevens,
who has got rich through fraud and ex-
| tortion. As | was going through the
| market on my way home | saw him
bringing a turkey for to-morrow-for to-
morrow is Thanksgiving day-that is, for
some people. don't know what we have
to be thankful for.'
Mrs Irwins chief comfort in these
dark days had been her firm belief in
the wisdom and goodness of God, and it
cost her not little effort to repress the
eager protest that arose to her lips. But
she was wise little woman, who knew
when to speak and when to be silent.
81 know what have most reason to
be thankful! for" she said, touching her
lips lightly to his forehead; that am
the happy wife of man who never gave
NE OcttlSlbll W illlNll l'l num- VI iNSi'A
the day that made me his
Lifting his head Mr.. Irwin looked
eagerly into those sweetly serious eyes.
as this really so, Mary? ! have feared,
of late, that it was selfish thing in me
to take you from home of ease and
comfort to share my hard and toilsome
life. You had many suitors. If, know
ing all that you do now, you had your
choice to make again, would 1t be the
sameP
1T would be the same. You little
know the heart of your wife, Richard, if
you think that have the shadow of a
regret. / only wish | could help you in
some way"
"You do help wei If it were not for
your love, and all that it gives me, heart
and strength would utterly fall
"See what nice dinner | have for
yonl" said Mrs. Irwin, pointing to some
covered dishes upon the hearth. 81 don't
believe you can guess where got it?"
Begged it, perhaps" with the bitter
response.
"No, indeed W. haven't got to that yet,
and, pleaae God, we never will. We had
only a crust of bread left from breakfast,
and this | moistened with some milk for
Freddie. As was thinking of it, and
cling troubled at the prospect of having
no dinner for you on your return, Mrs.
Aliens little girl tapped at the door, say
ing, that her mother hoped ! excuse her
for sending some meat and vegetables as
she had more than she wanted for dim
ner. Mrs. Allen is the woman who has
the rooms under us, and with whose sick
baby | watched one night last week"
The savory dishes that Mrs. Irwin
placed upon the neatly-spread table gave
forth very grateful odor to the hungry
man, who, with all the rest of his dis
comforts was faint for want of food.
1t may be humiliating admission for
them to make, but is, nevertheless, true,
that the world looks very different to
most men after and before dinner; and
Mr.. Irwin arose from the table with more
courage for the sharp conflict, the in
evitable hardships, that the majority of
people have to endure in one form or an
other.
"See how nicely have mended your
coat said Mrs. Irwin, holding the article
alluded to. up before her husband. 81
want to 90 to church in the morning.
You will CO. too, won't you?'
Mr. Irwin had his hat in his hand pre-
paratory to going out again on his almost
hopeless errand. He turned back
"What for?"
The voice was very low and reverent
that said:
"To render thanks to the Lord for all
His mercies."
"Poor little woman! For what will
you render thanks? For these thin, fad
ed garments, these bare walls, and scarce
ly food enough to keep soul and body to-
gether?"
"No, Richard. For this, that health
and strength are continued to us; that
while so many households have been
made desolute in our land, we are spared
otherm
Mr. Irwin felt his eyes moisten as he
descended the stairs, though he did not
feel the full significance of these words
until few hours later.
"Mary is a good woman" he thought;
"the best wife in the world! | wish |
could feel as she does about these thing
but | cant't.n
As he entered store. whose proprie-
tor had sometimes employed him in do
ing odd Jobs about it, he was accousted
by pleasant-looking elderly man, who
addressed him thus:
as your name lrwin?"
eyes, sir"
"You worked, at one time, for the Wa
terville Sewing Machine Company
"Ies, sir | worked for the company
until they failed, about year ago"
at did not fail exactly" said the stran-
ger, with a smile, "it suspended. 1t has
gone into operation again. Nv son is