Connecticut western news., 1881-11-23

MT. Irwin felt his eyes molsten as he descended the stais, though he did not feel the full significance of these words until few hours later. -~
 "Mary is good woman, he thought; "the best wife in the world I wish I could feel as she does about these things, but can't
 | As he entered store whose proprie- tor had sometimes employed him in do- ing odd jobs about it, he was accosted by pleasant-looking elderly man, who addressed him thus:
 |" Is your name Irwin ?"
 "Yes, sir"
 You worked, at one time, for the Waterville Sewing Machine Company ?"
 "9es, sir. Iworked for the company until they failed, about year ago."
 "It did not fail exactly" said the stranger, with smile, it suspended It has gone into operation again. My son is one of the firm. He wrote me to try and hunt you up. He is in want of 8 faithful, competent man to act as fore man. Would you like the place ?''
 MT. Irwin felt choking sensation in his throat, and his voice was little husky, as he said:
 "I should, very much. I have 8 dependent family; and have been out of steady work for some months"
 Those Teen eyes took rapid survey of the speakers worn and shabby gar ments.
 "My son writes that there is some- thing due you on the old account. Let me sec" Here the speaker referred to 8 letter which he took from his pocket. "Seventy-five dollars. I think I have the amount with me, and if you will give me receipt, will make it square with you now" ......
 It was long time since Mir. Irwin had had sum like this at his disposal, and he could hardly realize his good fortune, even when the roll of bills was in his hand.
 His first collected thought was of his dear, patient wife. "Poor Mary {! how glad she will be to know this p he said
 to himself as he went down the steps into the street, putting his hand in his
 breast pocket to make sure that it was
 not myth, the money he had placed there, as well as the bright prospects that had so suddenly opened before
 him.
 , As he hurried along eager to tell hel l the good news, and impatient at every l obstacle in his way, he saw a dense , cloud of smoke in the quarter where he lived. As he drew nearer he saw a crowe ) of people following some ghastly thing 3 that was being borne past him to ths
 station.
 9 "What is it ?" he inquired of <, 2 bystander.
 t GA woman and child burned to deatl 0 in 8 tenement house on Front street." r Front street There was where h. @ lived, and with quickened step and sink
 ing heart he pushed on. His wors d fears were realized. The building h }. had left few hours before was mas @ of smoking ruins, whose numerou b tenants were huddled out upon the side @ walk beside the few things they wer d able to snatch fir om the flames, bu }. among whom his eyes sought vainly fc u those that he most wished to see. d Rushing up to one of the women,
 seized her almost rudely by the arm. le Mrs. Allen, where is my wife ?'' ], Putting down the child she was holt of ing, the woman arose and stared wildl p around.
 "I haven't seen her. The Lord l. ,r good to us it couldn't be her they too 8, away so burned and blackened that he |" own mother wouldn't know her P or For moment MT. Irwin stood m. le tonless, struggling with the sickenin I horror that palsied limb and brai1 l Then, as he remembered the ghastl
 spectacle he had met, pushing throug pr the crowd, he turned his tottering ste1
 in the direction in which he had seen at borne.
 Il. In the shadow of such terrible b. m reavement, how light seemed eve1 bh other trial. how black the ingratitut k- that had made him so unthankful f. he the rich treasure of love that had bet ou his What cared he now for the oppo irl tunities thrown open to him Ho CT poor and empty seemed all that he h, d. hoped to do and win now she was gol he whose presence had made his low r. abode such haven of peace and lov, he "Merciful Father take all else, b ok spare my wife and child P was the G
 that went up from his tortured soul, in the officer in charge turned the key ole the room where the dead lay. he Upon rude table, their faces char