The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-11-22
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THE POOR wAsHERwoMAN
BY MRS. CAROLINE A. soULE.

q I declare I have half mind to put
this bed quilt into the wash to-day lit
don't really need to go either, but /
believe I'll send it down."
Why will you put it in, Mary, if it
does not need to go ?'' asked her good
old aunt Hannah, in her quiet but ex,
pressive way.
Why you see, aunt, we have but a
snall wash to-day SO small that Susan
will get through by one o'clock at the
latest, and I shall have to pay her just
the same as though Cue had worked till
night, So" :.
Stop moment, DEAR" said the old
lady gently, /" stop moment and think.
Suppose you were in the situation that
poor Susan is, obliged, you tell me, to
toll over the wash tub six days out of
the seven for the bare necessaries of life,
would you not be glad once in a while
to get through before night, to labor for
yourself and family, or better still, a few
hours to rest? Mary, dear, it is hard,
hard way for woman to earn her liy-
ing; begrudge not the poor creature her
half dollar. This is the forth day. in
succession she has risen by candle light
and plodded through the cold here and
there to her customers houses and toll
ed away existence Let her go at noon
if she ge.s through who knows but she
may have come from the sick couch of
some loved one, and that she counts her
hours, yes, the minutes, till she can re-
turn, fearing ever she may come one too
late. Put it back on the bed, and sit
l. all
wsshcrwomaD endured because her en-
ployer did as you would to makeout the
wash" And the old lady took off her
glasses. and wiped the tear drops that
from some cause had gathered in her
aged eyes, and then with a tremulous
voice related the promised story.
There never was more blithsome
bridal than that of Adaline Relaigh's.
There was never maiden who went to
the marriage altar with higher hopes of
blissful anticipations Wedding the man
of her choice, he whose love tones had
ever thrilled her heart ike music gush
from the land of light, he who was dear
er TO her far than her existence, young,
talented, noble fellow, one of whom any
woman might be proud, it was no wonder
that mourn seemed a golden waif from
Eden Few indeed have SUMNER life
in prospect than had she. And for ten
years there fell 10 shadow on her path.
Her home was one of beauty and rare
luxury-her husband the same kind,
gentle loving man as in the days of their
courtship, winning laurels every year in
his profession adding new comforts to
his home and new joys to his freside-
and besides these blessings, God had
given her another little crib stood
| by her bedside, its tenant golden hair
ed baby boy, the image of its noble faith
er, and dearer to those welded lovers
than aught else earth could offer.
e But L must not dwell upon those
happy days; my story has to do with
other ones. 1t was wit them as oft il
is with others just whe the cup is
sweetest, it is dashed away, just when
| the beam is brightest ths o. iuds gather.
A series of misfortunes and reverses oc.
Cured with startling rapidity and swept
from them everything but love and their
baby boy. Spared to one another an to
that, they bore a brave heart, and in q
distant city began anew their fortune.
Well and strongly did they struggle, and
at length Began once more to see the
sunlight of prosperity shine upoa their
home. But a little while it stayed and
the shadows fell. The hubsand sicRened
and lay for month opon a weary couch,
languishing not only with mental and
bodily pain, but oftentimes for food and
medicine. All that she could do, the
wife performed with faithful hand. She
went from one thing to another till al