The Angel Ministers.

according to our worth and merit . To trust in the Hi gher PoAver is therefore the duty of all men , in adversity as Avell as in prosperity . " Vour wife and daughter Avere both lost , you tell me , Mr . Fitzgibbon , in that terrible collision , " remarked one of the merchants of Boston , to the deeply bereaved and afflicted husband .

" 0 yes , yes , both were snatched from me in a moment by the deA-ouring flames , " Mr . Fitzgibbon exclaimed , with a deep sigh Avhich seemed to come from the bottom of his heart .

" Why , hoAv Avas it ? Where did you see your Avife last ?" " I Avas sound asleep , Mr . Benton , Avhen the collision occurred , ancl Avhen I opened my eyes the first person I saw was my v ? ife , Avith our little Nettie in her arms . I

jumped out from my berth and seized my boy who Avas lying at the foot of the berth , and we all left the state room together , and entered the cabin , Avhen I thought of my clear father-in-law , Avho had retired to a state room by himself , in the gentlemen ' s cabin . Still holding my little Robbie by the hand I went to look after him . I Avas

gone but a moment , but that terrible moment snatched my clear Avife and daughter from me forever , for when I got back to the spot Avhere I had left them , with the old gentleman , Mr . Rothfield , they vrere gone , ancl the flames Avere bursting all around us . I lookedI searchedI cried

, , for them , but theyAvere gone , the maddening fires were consuming everything , and amidst screams ancl groans , and the direst confusion I ever saw , my dear father-inlaw fell in the flames with suffocation , ancl in au instant Avas hid from my sight . I

heard him cry ' 0 Lord 1 My God ! ' and I heard him no more . With my little boy in my arms I ran , I knoAv not how , to the stern of the boat , from Avhich I sprang directly into the river . Of course Ave both Avent under the Avater , but Avhen Ave rose

to the surface again I placed the little felloAV on my back and struck out first to get aAvay from the burning boats and out of harm ' s Avay . I swam to the right and quartered clown stream , ancl after a long and exhaustive struggle Ave landed safely

about one mile ancl a half beloAV the burning vessels on the Indiana shore . I craAvled up through the bushes , carrying my dear little manly boy in my arms , ancl

when I sat CIOAVU , almost wholly exhausted , he crouched clown by my side and asked : "' Papa do you think God has taken care of Mamma arid Nettie ?' "' I hope so , my son , ' I ansAvered , consolingly , to his sore little heart , for I felt that it Avould kill him to lose both of these

clear idols of his life in a single hour . " After resting a little Avhile I started again to make my way up the banks of the river , leading ancl sometimes carrrying my little Robbie in my arms , Avhen I came to a cabinthe family of Avhich seemed all

, gone . I passed on , ancl in a short space I met them returning . "They insisted that I should return with them and they would do the best they could do for us . Of course I could not do

better , and Ave all started back for their cabin , where they kindled up a nice , bi g fire for us to dry ourselves by . They Avere poor , and had no dry clothes to give us a change , and Ave had to do the best Ave could in drying ourselves by the fire , " When , daylight came , Avhich Avas not long , the man got a canoe and roAved us over the river to the Kentucky shore , Avhere the Avrecks of our sad misfortunes

lay burnt ancl sunk to the Avater ' s edge . " Hundreds of people Avere gathered all along the shore , ancl I made every possible inquiry to obtain some light in regard to the sad fate of my loved ones , but not a ray of hope Avas given me . Nothing was left me but the cold ancl dismal conviction

that their poor bodies Avere burnt to ashes , or else , having found a Avatery grave , their lifeless remains Avould be food for the fish of the river . " "So you left the sad scene , Mr . Fitzgibbon , and came on here ? " asked the patient and interested listener .

" Yes , after stopping several Aveeks in Cincinnati , and making every effort I possibly could to learn something more of the sad fate of my poor wife and child , I came here , partly on business , but chiefly , if possibleto find some relief from the dismal

, death-sorrow Avhich so oppressively preys upon me . " " I deeply sympathise Avith you , Mr . Fitzgibbon , " said Mr . Benton , his merchant friend , " and now if you will accept of my hospitality , I think you and your little son

will find some relief , if not pleasure , in going with me , this evening , out to my seashore home and spend a few days Avith us .