, 1881-02-11
WHAT MRS IRWIN WAS THANKFUL
FOR.
BY MARY GRACE HALPISE.

ana more hardly upon MN.
But poor as it was, everything was as
neat as his pretty wife Mary's busy
hand 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. 1--WE walked the
streets all the morning, and there is no
work to 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; oil my hardly
earned savings are gone; and what is to
become OF us is more than l know"
1T il 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. /
would'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."
II sometimes doubt wheth He cares
much for what is done he, 1t don't
look as il he did. THERE'S ON Stevens,
who has got rich through f:aud and ex-
tortion. As was going through the
market on my way home L saw him
bringing turkey for to.morrow-for to-
morrow is Thanksgiving Day-that is
for some people. I don't know what we
have to be thankful for"
Mrs. Irwin's 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 q wisy little woman, who knew when
to speak and when to be silent.
II know what have most reason to be
thankful for" she said, touching her lips
lightly to his forehead; THAT am the
happy wise of man who never gave me
occasion to blush for him, or regret the
day that made me his
Lifting his head Mr.. Irwin looked
eagerly into those sweetly serious eyes.
"ls 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 snitors. Ii, know
ing all that you do now, you had your
choice to make again, would 1t be the
same?"
TT would be the same. You little
know the heart OF your wife, Richard, il
you think that / have the shadow OF
regret. I only wish / could help you in
someway,"
"You do help me! If it were not for
your love, and all that it gives me, heart
and strength would utterly fail.
"See what nice dinner l have for
you!" said Mrs. Irwin, pointing to some
covered dishes upon the hearth. II
don't believe You can guess where l got
it,"
Begged it, perhaps" was the bitter
response.
mo, indeed we haven't got to thatyet
and please God, we never will. We had
only crust left from breakfast, and this
I moistened with some milk for Freddie.
As | was thinking Of it, and feeling
troubled at the prospect OF having no
dinner for you on your return, Mrs. Al.
lens 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 din
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.
II NAV 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
inevitable 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 artl-
Gle alluded to up before her husband.
81 want to go to church in the morning.
You will go, too, won't youY'
Mr.. Irwin had his hat in his hand pre-
paratory to going out again on his al
most hopeless errand, He turned back.
what for?"
The voice was very low and reyerent
that said;
ITO render thanks to the Lord for all
His mercies."
Poor little woman! For what will
Won render thanks? For these thin,
faded garments, these bare walls, and
scarcely food enough to keep soul and
body together?" -,
mo, Richard. For this, that health
and strenghth are continued to us; that
while so many households have been
made desolate in our land, we are spared
ntbarr