Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

was a noise in the sky so terrible that it re-
sembled very much the roaring of an en-
ragged lion or the rolling of approaching
thunder. In the next moment a cloud
right above the spot where Cooney and his
stood opened up, and the vision of fiery
demon appeared before them. The two peo-
pie almost sank to the ground with fear
and trembling, and neither of them was
able TO utter sign.
Woman, what do you want?" deep
voice now came from the apparition. When
COoney's wife heard that the voice was
quite human she lost some of her fear and
replied:
'Here is my husband, who has been fool
enough to let our house burn down, while
he was in it, and the thought of great loss
made me so mad that l said 1 wished he
were burnt as WE'LL"
"But maybe he could not help it." re-
piled the vision of fire, "do you think that
you could stop the flames if they attacked
your house?"
''Yes, 1 am sure I COULD quickly re-
torted the woman, eff were in the house
myself"
"All right, nv dear woman" said the
voice from the cloud. 81 am the demon of
fire, and since you are so very smart will
give you the opportunity. will give YOU
another house, and one that is finer and
stronger than the one you had before. But
mind you be careful, or you might meet
with the same misfortune as your husband
did,
Then the demon disappeared, and again
that rolling, roaring noise was heard, but
before the last echoes had died away in the
distant hills, Cooney and his wife were as
tonished so that they could hardly believe
their eyes, when in the place where the old
shanty had stood they beheld a beautiful
residence fitted with all the appurtenances
and accommodations anyone might wish
for.
We'll, if that is the new house the demon
OF fire wants US to have, let us get in.
COoney," said the wife, "now you see
whether 1 will not be able to take care of
the place as long as we live"
Entering the wide oaken doors thev both
stepped into the hall, which was a master
piece OF elegant architecture. All the walls
were empaneled with costly woodworks; the
floors were covered with the finest carpets
and from the windows gorgeous curtains of
the richest silks were hanging in heavy
folds, and the furniture was all of the most
magnificent wood and workmanship. The
coal carrier and his wife stared at all this
splendor in utter bewilderment, and as thew
walked ell through the house, from room to
room, their astonishment increased. At
last they came into the kitchen. A iolly
fire was burning here in the stove, and a
piece OF beef was waiting to be roasted.
The sight of that meat makes me hum
CRY, said Cooney's wife; now let me cook
it as quick as 1 can and we will presently
enjoy a nice dinner"
She Immediately set to work and nut the
roast on the stove, but she unfortunately
came too close to the fire and before she
knew what she was about her dress was all
in flames. Instead of getting her husband TO
fetch some water and have 1t put out. she ran
wildly around and shrieked So loud that the
ceiling threatened to come down. From the
kitchen she ran ito the parlor, and here the
beautiful carpet and curtains caught the
flames, until the whole house was a mass of
flames. Cooney had just time enough to
catch hold OF her and carry her outside, or
the woman would have burned ND. When
he got her into the air he succeeded In get
ting her to a well and, dumping her right
into the water, the fire of her clothes was
put out. But when he pulled her out. and
both looked around, the house was already
consumed by the raging fire, and nothing
but the ruins were left.
What with her fright and the burns
which Cooney's wife had sustained. the
woman began TO bewail her misfortune in a
most pitiful manner. The husband did all
he could to console her, but she was too
downhearted. AT last, however. her ma
ture got again the better of her
"What is the use of such stupid wooden
house anyhow" she said ''if the demon |
meant TO do us some good, 1 wish he had |
given us a stone house that wouldn't have
burned down so quickly"
No sooner had she said so, however, when |
that roaring noise in the clouds came on |
again, which had once before heralded the |
arrival Of the demon of fire.
"H'm!' he said to the woman, with the
most sarcastic smile on his fiery face, "you
didn't look after the house as we'll as Won |
said you would, although you were in it
yourself. and 1t is just wonder that you
did not lose your life too. Had it not been
for your kind husband You would certainly
not be alive now"
''That is all very well to talk..tbat way"
the woman replied, 'but who would have
thought that house would have burned up |