Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-07-06

Olrres-ion's ; heart might be imbued,
With kindllng drops of loving kindness.
And knowledge pour from shore to shore.
Light on the eyes of mental blindness.
All fraud and warfare, lies and wrongs,
All vice and crime might die together;
And milk and corn. to each man born.
BE free as warmth in Summer weather.
The meanest wretch that ever trod-
The deepest sunk in guilt and sorrow.
Night stand erect in self-respect.
And share the teeming world Tomorrow
What might be done? This might be done
And more than this, my suffering brother
More than the tongue, eer said or sung
Ii men were wise and loved each ether.
THE GROWING PROOF.
Richard Irwin toiled slowly and
YEARLY up the two flights of stairs
which led to the poor abode, whose
scanty furniture had grown still more
scanty as want and poverty pressed
more and more hardly upon him.
But poor as it was, everything was
rs 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
It's of no use, Mary" he said,
sinking down into a chair. i've
walked the streets all the morning,
and there is no work to be had; men
are discharging their old hands in
stead Of taking new. I've had nc
work for three months now, with the
exception of an odd Job or SO. Win
ter is coming on; all my hard earned
savings are gone, and what is to be-
come of us is more than 1 know"
1T is always darkest before the
dawn, Richard"
That's what YOU have been saying
for long time" was the gloomy re
sponse; "but the night keeps grow
ing darker. 1 wouldn't care so much
if it wasn't for you and the baby; but
to see you growing 80 pale and SO
hollow-eyed, and to know that
Freddie is neither comfortably fed nor
clothed, drives me almost wild"
God is good, my husband. He
will not forsake those who put their
trust in Him, and do the best they
can"
Il sometimes doubt whether He
cares much for what is done here.
1t don't look as if He did. There is
George Stevens, who has got rich
through fraud and extortion. As
was going through the market on my
way home l saw him buying turkey
for to morrow-for tomorrow is
Thanksgiving Day--that is, for some
people. I don't know what we have
to be thankful forv'
Il know what l have most reason
to he thankful for" she said, touch,
ing her lips lightly to his forehead;
''that I am the happy wife of a man
who never gave me occasion to blush
for him or regret the day that made
me his"
''Is this really SO, Mary7 1 have
feared of late that it was selfish
thing in me to take you from 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?"
"It would be the same. You little
know the heart of your wife, Richard
| if you think I have the shadow of re-
gret. I only wish I could help you
in some way"
"You do help me! If it were not
for your love, and all it gives me-
heart and strength would utterly
fail"
"See what nice dinner / have fol
your said Mrs. Irwin, pointing to
some covered dishes upon the hearth
II don't believe you can guess where
I got it."
Begged it. perhaps" was the bit
ter reponse.
mo, indeed! we haven't got to thai
yet. and, please God, we never will
We had only q crust of bread lef
from breakfast, and that I moistenei
with milk for Freddie. As I wa.
thinking of it, and feeling troubled
at the prosp pect'of having no dinner
for you on your return, Mrs. Allen
little girl tapped at the door, saying
that her mother hoped I'd excuse hel
for sending some meat and vegeta
bles, as she had more than sh,
wanted for dinner. Mrs. Allen is thu
woman who has the rooms under us
and with whose sick baby I watched
one night last wetk.
The savory dishes that Mrs. irwin
placed upon the neatly spread table
gave forth very grateful odor to th,
hungry man, who, with all the rest O
his discomforts, was faint for tn,
want of food. Mr.. Irwin arose from
the table with more courage fo
the sharp conflict, the inevitable
hardships that the majority of people
have to endure in one form or an
other
'.See how nicely ! have mendet
your coat" said Mrs. Irwin, holdine
the article alluded to up before he
husband. Il want to go to church il
the morning. You will 60, too, won
you?"
Mr.. Irwin had his hat in his hand
preparatory to going out again on hi
almost hopeless errand. He turned
back
What for?"
The voice was very low and rever
ent that said:
ITO render thanks to the Lord fo
all His mercies."
Poor little woman! For what vii
you render thanks7 For these thin
faded garments. these bare walls, ant
scarcely food enough to keep sou
and body together?"
mo. Richard. For this. tha
health and strength are continued t
us; that while SO many household
have been made desolate in our land
we are spared to each other"
Mr.. Irwin felt his eyes moisten a
he descended the stairs, though b
did not feel the full significance q