Litchfield enquirer., 1854-12-28
Misc,.sl!ang.
The Poor Washer Woman.
By MRS. CAROLINE. a souLE.

-NSs8{s - 1865 = II = 1855 & t
Il declare I have mind TO pu! this
bed quilt into the wash TO day IL don't
really need tn 90, neither, but believe
IN send it down. Why, you see. aunt,
Susan will get through BY one or two
u'slock At lehst, and shall have TO pay
her jus. as much as though she worked
till night; and Son .s>ss a. $40
Sop q moment, dear. said the old
lady gently, stop moment and think.
Suppose tina, you was in the situation
that Susan Is ;lonIigedto toll as hard over
he wash tub six days out of seven 70
the bare accessories oil life. wouldn', you
be glad once in a while, ncf",e dA,k 10
have few hours Of day light TO labor
fer yourself and family or bette, still. a
lew bou,s. 70 rssl2 Mary. dear, il is q
hard way for a woman 10 earn her living:
begrudgc not the poor creature her half
dollar. This is she fonr,h day in sacces>
sion that she has li'~n by candle ligh,
and plodded through the cold to her GUS
tomers' houses. Let her 50 at noon If
she gets through. Who knows bat she
may have to come ftom the sick couch
Of some loved one, and that she counts
the hours yes. the minu'es--.ill she can
return. fearing even she may come one
to late, put il bsck on the bed, and sit
down while tell you what one poor
washer woman endured because her en-
pioyer did as you would. 10 make out
the wash And the old woman took OF
her spectacles and wiped away the tear
drop that from some cause had gathered
in her aged eyes. and then with a irem-
ulous voice related the following STORY !:
There was never more blI'hesome
marriage than Adnlinc Raleigh's. There
was never maiden that went to the
marriage altar with brighter hopes or
more blssfnl anlicipaticns. Wedding
the man Of her choice, he. whose loved
tone had ever filed her heart like q nnu.
sic gush from the land Of light. ayoung
TALENTED, noble fellow. one Of whom any
woman might well be proud. il was no
wonder that morn seemed golden wall
| rou Eden. Few indeed have sunie'
| life ID pros pect thsn had she. For ten
wears there fell no shadow ON her path.
! Her house was one Of beauty and rare
luxury. her husband the came kind, low
ing man as in the days Of courtship.win.
ming laurels every year 10 bis profession
nJding comforts TO his home and JOY "a
his ifeside. And besides these bless.
ings, God had given another little
crib stood BY her bedsidc-is tenant
rosy baby boy, The image Of it's father
and dearcr 10 those welded lovers augh'
else earth could offer.
But l must not dwell upon thosf
happy days; my story has 70 do viii
otlicr onev. Il was with them as oft I
is With others; Just when the bean, i
/ the brightest. the clouds began u gath.
er. n series Of misfortunes and seycrsei
occurred with alarlling severity. sweep
from them everything but love and thsil
baby boy. Spared 70 that and 20 ont
another. they bore brave heart. and il
a distant city began . new their fortunss
Well and strong did they Struggle, an,
1t length they began to see the sunligh
of prosperity shine again on their home
But little lille and the shadow fell. Til
husband ,ickened. and lay for months Of
lis couch languishing. not only with men
tai aId bodily pain, but oftentimes 70
food and medicine. All that she eoult
do. tho wife performed with willini
hands. She went from one Ting 10 an