The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-07-27
WHAT MRS. MARY IRWIN WAS
THANKFUL FOR.

WHAT MRS. MARY IRWIN WAS
THANKFUL FOR.
Richard Irwin toiled slowly and wearily
APP the two flight of stairs which led to the
poor abode, whose seanty furniture had
grown still more scanty as want and pow
erty pressed more and more hardly upon
him.
But poor as it was, everything was as
neat as his pretty wife Mary's 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 II chair. "Tve walked the streets
all the morning, and there is no work to be
had men are discharging their old hands
instead of taking new. Nv had no work
for over three months now with the excep-
ton of an odd job or so. Winter is com
ing on all my hardly earned savings are
gone; and what is to become of us is more
than know"
81. is always darkest before the dawn,
Richard"
THAT'S what you have been saying for q
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
Dbbl ~ W htN Nou BlONlhE bO pblt unu
so hollow-eyed, and to know that Freddie
is neither comfortably fed or clothed, drives
me almost wild"
The young wife laid her and softly up
on the bowed head of the speaker,
God is good, my husband He will not
forsake those who put tbaE v asst in Him,
and do the best they CAL.
81 sometimes doubt Wheeler He cares
much for what is done here. 1t don't look
as if he did. There is Tom Stevens, who
has got rich through fraud and extortion.
As / was going through the market on my
way home | saw him bringing a turkey
for to-morrow-for tomorrow is Thanks
giving day-that is for some people. l
| don't know what we AVE to he thankful
for ~
Mrs. Twins chief comfort in these dark
days had been her firm belief in the wis
dom and goodness of God, and it cost her
not n little effort to repress the eager pro-
test that arose to her lips. But she was q
wise little woman, who knew when to
speak and when to be silent.
II know what I have most reason to
thankful for" she said, touching her lips
tghtlyt to his forehead that | am the hap
py wife of a man who never gave me oc-
casion to blush for him, or regret the day
that made me his.''
80 hA' bNAAAA afAH II II tatRtI-
y into those swestly serious eyes.
rs this really so, Nary 1 have feared,
of late, that it was q selfish thing in me to
take y0u from n home of ease and comfort
to share my hard, toilsome life. You had
many suitors. If knowing all that you do
now, you had your choice to make again.
would it be the same ?"
ut would be the same. You little know
the heart OF your wife, Richard, if you
think l have the shadow OF regret. l only
| wish | could help you in some way
"You do help mel Ii it were not for
your love, and all it gives me, heart and
ltrength would utterly fail.n
See what n nice dinner / have for your
said Mrs. Irwin, pointing to some covered
dishes upon the hearth. 81 don't believe
you can guess where l got it?"
Begged it, perhaps" was the bitter re-
Spouse.
mo, indeed we haven't got to that yet,
and, please God, we never will. We
had only a crust of bread left from break
fast, and that l moistened with milk for
Freddie. As was thinking of it, and feel
ing troubled at the prospect of having no
dinner for you ON your return, Mrs. Aliens
little girl tapped at the door, saying that
her mother hoped I'd excuse her for send
ing some meat and vegetables, as she had
more than she wanted for dinner. Mrs.
Allen is the woman who has the rooms
under us, and with whose sick baby i
watched one night last week.
The savory dishes that Mrs. Irwin placed
upon the neatly spread table gave forth a
very grateful odor to the hungry man, who,
with all the rest Of his discomforts, was
faint for the want of food.
1t may be n humiliating admission for
them to make, but it is, nevertheless, true,
that the world looks very different to
1t men after and before dinner, and Mr..
irwin arose from the table with more cour-
age for the sharp conflict, the inevitable
hardships that the majority of people nave
to endure in one form or another.
See how nicely | nave mended your
coat said Mrs, Irwin, holding the article
.lluded to up before her husband. Il want
to go to church, in the morning. You will
go, too, won't you 2"
Mr.. Irwin had his hat in his hand pre-
o~aratory to going out again on his almost
hopeless errnnd. He turned back.
What for ~
The voice was very low and reverent
that said:
To render thank 20 the Lord for all his
uercies.n
"Poor little woman! For what will YOU
render thanks2 For these thin, faded gar
ments, these bare walls, and scarcely food
enough to keep soul and body together Pn
No, Richard. For this, that health and
strength are continued TO us that while
so many households nave been made DESC
lute in our land, we are spared to each
otherl"
Mr.. Irwin felt his eyes moisten as he de-
scended the stairs, though he did not feel
the full significance of these words until
a few hours later.
Mary is n good woman lie thought;
the best wife in the world l wish l
could feel rs she does about these things.
but / CAN'T
As he entered n store, whose proprieio'
had rome times employed him In doing
odd jobs about it, lie was accosted by a
pleasant-looking elderly man, who address
cd him thus:
is your name 1rwinY"
Yes. sir.p
You worked at one time, for the Water
vile Sewing Machine Company ?'
Yes, sir. l worked for the company un-
til they failed, about a year ago" |