The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-24

She went from one thing to another, till at
length she who had worn satin garb and
pearls upon her bridal day, toiled at the
wash-tub for the scantlest living. Long
before light she would rise every morning
and labor dor theedear ones of her lowly
home, andathen with many kiss upon the.
lips Of herlpale companion and sleeping
boy, start out through the cold deep snow,'
and grope her way to the too often smoky,
gloomy kitchen, and toll there at rubbing,
pounding, rinsing. starching-not unfre-
quently wading knee deep in the drifts, to
hang out the clothes that froze even ere
she7had fastened them on the line. And
when night came, with her half dollar she
would again grope through the cold and
snow to her of.times iightless and ireless
home, for her husband was too sick much
fsthe time to tendseven the fire or strike
light. And o, with what shivering heart
she would draw near them, fearing ever
she would be too late. 1t is a fact that for
six weeks at one time, she never saw the
face OF her husband or her child, save by
lamplght.. except only zon the Sabbath.
How glad she would have been to have
once in while had asmall wash gathered
Tor her! -ds57esls.s bagei &c
',One dark winter morning, as she1was
busted preparing the frugal bre akfast and
getting everything ready ere she left, her
husband called hertol tile bedside. s9s4
\ ADA said he. in almost aswhisper.
.'k want you should try and get home ear
lyEto -night--be home before sun down, do,
Ada. .oajoi3iue nssa s1u bfa beHa3a ssG5
d.I'll try,' answered she with a choked
utterancesaw i2.dy 5fs ,bst2a Cd aleas.
-f.Do ostry. lAda.g fhavela "a strange desire
tod see y our facesby sunlight-to- day is
Friday--lhaye not seenitsince Sunday
must look upon itionce again. ad
1 "Do you feel worse, Edward?'' asked
she, sanxiously, feeling his pulse as she
spukaaa a. goiieai sfli 10 sl@s So 10 la.
mo, no, il sthink not but !, do want to
see your daceinnce, more by,jsunlight.l !
cannot wait till sSund y3'oponas nsdi az =
1 yd7ladiy would she iarry. by his bedside
till the sunlight should have stolen through
lheirnlitile window-{butl it. might not be.
She was pennylesss an DE- in the dusk of
morning must 60 forth to labor She left
him, sweet ikisses' gixena and taken, and
sweet words whispered in the sweetest
loves tones She reached the kitchen Of
her employer, and with troubled face
waited for the basket to be brought. "A
beautiful smile played over her. wan face
as she assorted its contents She could
get through easily by two o'clock, yes, and
if she hurried. perhaps by one.y Love and
anxiety lent new strength to her weary
arms; and five minutes after the clock
struck one. she hangs the last garment on
the line, and was just about emptying her
tubs, when The mistress came in with, a
couple Of bedquilts, and saying. "as you
have so small a wash to-day. .Adaline, ]
think you ma do these yet left the, room
again. A wall Of agony. wrung from the
deepest fountain sof, her heart, gushed to
her lips: Smothering it as best she could,
she again, took up the board and rubbed
rnsed and hung out. II was half-pas,
three, when again she started for home
an hour Too late" And the aged narrator
sobbed. safee 80. - r...,.......
.:An hour too late,"' continued she, after
la long pause. Her husband was dying;
yes, almost gone. He had strength given
him. to whisper a few words TO the hall
frantic wife-to tell how he had longed to
look upon her. face, and how that till the
clock struck two he could see, but after
that, though he strained every nerve, he
lay in the shadow Of death. One hour
she pillowed his head upon her suffering
heart, and then-Ae sods at rest. ~
;i,'. But for the thoughtless or grudging ex
action of her mistress. she had once more
seen the lovelight flash in her husbands
eyes, and. he, have. looked upon her, who
was so dear. -.
d"Mary, Mary, dear" and there was 6
soul-touching emphasis in the aged wo
mans words. be kind TO your washer
womang7instead ad Of. striving TO make he
day's work as long as may be, shorten IT
tighten n..;aJ ass loe.sfs a.. 90 ,tef Il
/ al Few women will go out 10 daily wash
ing unless their needs arr, terrible, NJ
woman epn her bridal day, expects. TO labo
in that way; and be sure, my niece, if con
strained 40 do sos it is the last resort. ,Tha
poor woman laboring now SO hard for you
has not always been awasherwoman. ,Sh'
has seen bright, gladstone hours. She hai
seen awful trials, too. can read her story
| in her pale, sad face. Be kind TO her, pay
her al she asks, and let her 60 home a
early as she can" .:F,aa,ssa..7 ...l
ss!f'.You have finished in good season to
4 day, eSosan,''' = said Mrs. Merton, as III
4 washerwoman. with her old cloak and hoot
on. entered the pleasant chamber y, 70 asl ssl
). 80. Yes ma ,an,, that have. and my heart
), ma am, lis relieved, Of q heavy load TOO,
4 was SO afraid ! should be kept till night
and ! am needed 90 athome.,"' ~ NJ
u 'ls there sickness there?"' said aun
Il Ham ah, lkindly.eso4 afeua :s...f IN
i Tears gushed to the woman 9 eyes a
} she answered sss.Ah, ma am, left my bah.
most dead this morning: he will be, quit
SO .o.u,asrow; ! knovsit. have seen il to-
Z. many times, and none but q child Of min
years, to tend il, o, must 60, and quick
: llyH And 9grasping the money, the har'
earned money that she had toiled for whH
/ he's baby was dying, that dead il nigh
j have a decent lshrond, she hurried to ne
! DIRE ary Ehome-.,ns ss,s-sJ5. ..,s7. ss...sy1.
They followed her, the young vile VIII
y had never known,a sorrow, and the age
j NATION whose hair was while with trouble
= folio wee, her to her home 1.-The home Of tn
Il l, IL tb rAtc hahps