Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-08-11
MISCELLANY.
The Poor WasherWOman.

Z" | declare, have mind to put this bed
quilt into the wash to-day it don't really
need to go, neither, but believe I'll send it
down. Why, you see, aunt, we have very
small wash to-day; so small that Susan will
get through by one or two O'Clock at least,
and shall have to pay her just as much as
though she worked till night and so--'
"Stop moment dear" said the old lady
gently, 80 stop moment and think. Suppose
that you We're in the situation that Susan is
obliged to toll as hard over the wash-tub six
days out of seven for the bare necessares of
life, wouldn you be glad once in while,
before dark, to have Il few hours Of daylight
to labor for yourself and family, or better
still, few hours to rest ! Mary, dear, it is
hard, hard way for woman to obtain a
living begrudge not the poor creature her
half a dollar. This is the fourth day in sue
cesson that she has risen by candle light and
plodded through the cold to her customers
houses Let her 90 at noon if she gets
through. Who knows but she may have to
come from the sick couch of some loved ono,
and that she counts the hours yes, the min
utcs-till she can return fearing even she
may come one too late. Put it back on the
bed, and sit down while tell you what one
poor washerwoman endured, because her en-
| ploycr did as you would, to make out the
cles off and wiped away the tear-drops that
| from some cause had gathered in her aged
| ewes and then with a trcmulous voice related
the following story:
! There was never more blithesOme mar
rage than Adaline Raleigh's. There was
never maiden that went to the marriage al
tar with higher hopes or more blissful antic-
| ipations. Wedding the man of her choice
he whose loved tones had ever filled her heart
like IA music-gush from the land of light, a
Young. talented, noble fellow, one of whom
any woman might well be proud, it was nc
wonder that morn seemed like waif from
Eden. Few indeed have SUMMER life ir
prospect than had she. For ten years there
fell no shadow on her path. Her house wa'
one of beauty and rare luxury her husband
the same kind, loving man as in the days O
courtship, winning laurels every year in hi
profession, adding comforts to his home anC
lows to his freside And besides these bles
sings, God had given another little cril
stood by her bedside, its tenant rosy bah,
boy, the image of its father, and dearer t.
those welded lovers than aught else eartl
could offer.
:. But must not dwell upon those happ
days my story has to do with other Ones
1t was with them as oft as it is with others
Just when the beam is the brightest. tn
clouds begin to gather. A series of misfor
tunes and reverscs occurred with startling
severity, and swept from them every thin
but love and their baby boy. Spared to tina
and to one another, they bore n brave heart
and III distant city began anew their for
tune. Well and strongly did they struggle
and at length they began to see the sunligf
of prosperity shine again on their new home
But little while and the shadows fell. III
husband sickened, and lay for months ON hi
couch languishing, not only with mental an
bodily pain, but oftentmes for food and me,
, icine All that she could do the wife pc
formed with willing hand She went fro
!, one thing to another, till ut length she wi
:, had worn II satin garb and pearls upon ht
bridal day, toilcd at the washtuh for Il
scantcst living, Long before light she wou
rise every morning, and toll for the dear on
at home, and then with many kiss upon Il
lips of her pale companion and sleeping bo
start ont through the deep, cold snow, al
70 gropc her WY to the too often smoky kitcl
en-, and toll there at rubbing, scaldng, rim
ing, starchng, not unirequently wading KIN
deep through the snow, to iasten her ireeziI
clothes upon the line, And when nigl
came, with her half dollar, she would aga
srope through the snow to her ofttimcs ligh
less and iireless home, and oh, with what
shIverng heart wou she draw near to thci
70 fearing ever she would be too late. 1t is
fact that for six weeks at one time she nev
saw the face of her husband or child, save
lamplight, except only on the Sabbath. lilo
glad she would have been to have had on
in while a small wash gathered for her
, f" One dark, winter morning, as she W
> buslv preparing the frugal breakfast a.
getting everything ready before she left, h
5. husband called her to his bedside. - Ada
said he, almost in a whisper, - | want y
should try and get home early to night
home before sundown-do, Ada.
an try" answered she, with chok
10 10 utterance.
y ..Do try, Ada. have a strange desire
= see your face by sunlight, To-day is frida
t. | have not seen it since Sunday | must 10
e, upon it once again.
es a." DO you teel worse, Edward p asked q
- anxiously, feeling as she spoke,
No, no, think not but | do want
see your face once moreby sunlight. ca
not wait till Sunday"
- Gladly would sAe have tarried by his be
side till the sunlight stole througA their lit
window, but il WAS not to be. She was DC
< niless, and in the dusk of morning must
,rs forth to labor. She lett him sweet kiss
Ir- given and taken, and sweet words whisl Ell
in the sweetest love tones She reached I
,le kitchen of her employer, and with troub
or face waited for the basket to he 'rought.
sr or beautiful smile played over her wan face
he she assorted its contents. She could
We through easily by two o'clock, and perhi
be if she hurried by one. Love and anAi'
lent new strength to her weary arms a
~ i,e minutes after the clock struck one,
~ hung the Last garment on the line, and v
Just about cmptying her tubs, when the Ia