Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-05-26

II ~ the spring season., and even wheT
there WAS no wafer, a thousand blue eyed
vinle,s sl,etltan azure ,inge along the moist
and rich grass which formed its4betl; while
in July aud August the upper curve ofttle
bank was covered with golden butter cnps
and few strawberries might be fnunt
where the sunshine. came mos. frequently
embedded like ruhies in the velvet grass
Tine extremity Of this hollow sloped gen
ily down To tie, rivers brink while ll,t
upper end was guarded by singular ".t
buiton-wood tree. The rude trunk ros,
upward four Or five feet. then i, maze :
sudden bend. like the elbow Of a man.
arm. then ran parallel with the earth
perhaps three fee, more, then shot to-
wards the sky. s,raigl,t as an arrow. ant
its smooth, white stem. and fantasii,
baugIs. which, loomed high up in the air
seemed the more picturesque becanse i
was the only tree Of that species in the
neighborl,nod. /. was benea'l This oil,
Tree that our wasl,erwoman performed ie'
dn,y. from the first starting "f the grass in
spring. ill The frost Of All Indian summer
rendered it crisp benea III her feet. In Il
Tiny hallnw, jus. below the roots. she built
her fire. an iron grapple secured her hook
~ that portion nj the trunk which formed
line abo, it, and huge brass kettle
swung all day over The cheerful blaze,
with lie smoke curling round il, and for
ming fantastic wreath. among The broad
leaves and ,assel.Iike balls overhead.
I he droIl loo. ing old tree wonIJ have
formed scan,y Shadow 10 protect our
kind old woman from the sun; but just
beyond it. on The level ground. stood !
white pine and "a hemlock with the bran
ches in,erlaced and covered go thick that
i, seemed impossible for The sunshine ever
to reach The moss which grew underneath
Il was pIeasan, sight when that nice old
woman took her stand at the wash-tnb.
within the shadow flung from this group
If trees. The red cloak lay folded OH the
moss near by, the slee' es Of her striped
shor. gown were carefully rolled up; and
The snnw white border Of her cap rose aud
fell with the motion of her hand while
her hands passed with a constant. but
sometimes feeble motion, up and down
her wash-b0artl.
There the old woman was, in the quiet
shade. all day long hard a: work, aud with
Il tranquil melancholy hanging about i'er
which mus, have or;gi.,s.ed -i"-.lse a.ose
fearful sorrow of her early life. How
kind and pa,,en, she was-always smiling
irduIgen,ly al our ,nischicvous pranks,
and thanking us every time we brought
her a stick Of drift wood or a cup Of water
from the spring. like br"ken down gen
t!ewoman as she was: h"w good nalured-
Iy she prepared The smalles, sized tub Of
her set ila, we nigh. wash on, the peck.
G, I,ankerchiefs aud mmslins. She would
smile to see how busy we became. how
earnestly we scattered the white foam
about, and will, what desperate energy we
wrung the bits Of muslin and tiny r"flles
in imitation If herself hen she prepared
a sheet or table cloth for the boiling ket'
lie.
l, was seldom that our industry ou,liv
ed The thousand tiny bubble that rose and
broke like rainbow ,inge anil The snowy
foam which filled our tub ;beiore we could
ge, fair view of the water underneath
some II " freak always carried MS of into
the woods in search Of bird s-nests ol
young win,ergreen. We became very
thirsty and wanted ..rink. or Lad taken 4
decided fancy IL search for s,rawberrie:
on The knoll. or gather peppermint fr"n
the hollow But the old woman did II"
srold ms, though we tired Of our useful
ness ever SO soon; she was always ready
to indulge us over again. and 1t we lnsis.
ell on spreading Der clothes Oh the grass
towards sunset, she never made any OBJ
lection. though j. always gave her ad''i
,ional trouble when she was worn out will
labor. Bat we loved The poor washewn
man: and would run IL The house afie
luncheon half dozen times in a day. :
We always KEEP. her fire blaze from tn
drifi-wood which lodged Oh the rive
brink and when nigh,iali came. and he
task was done. there was always \ sririle'
run from the grassy siope. where tn
clo,hes were dried, 10 The pine shade !; am
she who carried The washerwOnan' cloal
back, was a happy girl. in''eed. Ihe'
zane the butlered muffin. and strong tea
which was l,,ov,te.l for her comfort in ,h'
house. How we loved To climb up tn
back If her chair, and study the te
/ grounds in The bottom of her cup. Sucl
castles. and serpen,s, aud rings. I" sa.
no,hing uf the birds and wild animals a
we saw ,l.ere, was perfect miracle. III
fortunes always came true; we were i
ge, all The .c.etit marks' during The week
by very good children. ard no. say sin
gle angry or naughty word for long time
Che saw .la, in the rup-wi,h present
and all sorts If pretty tl,ings-and ~