The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-11-08

and strongly did they struggle, and at length
began once more to see the sun-llght Of
prosperity shine upon their home. But a
little %hleaf stayed and the shadows fell y, ~
The husband ,,siekened and lay for month
upon wearycouch, languishing not only
with mental and bodily pain, but oftsntimes
for food and medicine. All that she could
Edo, the wife performed with q faithful hand.
She went from one thing to another till at
4 length she who had worn u satin garb and
j pearls upon her bfidsl day, toiledSt the wash
tub for the 'srshtiest living; Long before
light enc would rise every morning and la
Dor for the dear ones ,bl her Iowly home,
rand then with many kiss upon the lips OF
her pale companion and sleeping boy, start
out through the cold deep snow, and, grope
her way tothe too often smoky, gloomy
i kitchen, and to toll there at rubbing, pound
! ing. rising, starching--not unfrequentH wa
ding knee deep in the drifts, to hang out the
clothes that froze even ere she had fastened
them on tue line. And when night came,
with her half dollar she would again grope
through the cold and snow to her oft.tines
lightless and fireless home, for her husband
was too sick much Of the time to tend even
! the fire or strike light, And o, with what
q shivering heart she would draw near them,
fearing ever she would be too late. II is u
fact that for six weeks at one time, she never
saw the face Of her husband or her child,
save by lamplight, except only on the Sab
bath. How glad she would have been to have
once in while had small wash gathered
for her. One dark winter morning, as she
was busy preparing the frugal breakfast and
getting everything ready ere she left, her
husband called her to the bedside.
"Ada,' said he, in almost whisper, 81
want you should try and get home early to
night--be home before sundown, do, Ada"
Uu "I'll try" answered she with a choked
utterance. ...-......... -. ,...... r..,,., ,
ado try, Ada. have strange desire to
see your face by sun light--to day is Friday
r-ril have not seen it since Sunday must
look upon it once again.
,*Dp you feel worse, Edward" asked she
,anxiously, feeling his pulse as she spoke. ,,l
| sp"No, no, think not, but do want to see
your face once more by sunlight. l cannot
wait till Sunday" \, ,... .. ..r lar ..,.tf.n
""Glady would she tarry by his bed side
I'LL the sunlight should have stolen" through
their little window-but it might not be-
She was penniless, and in the dusk of the
morning must go forth to, labor. She left
him, sweet kisses given and taken, and sweet
words whispered in the sweetest love tones.
She reached the kitchen of her employer,
and with troubled face waited for the bask-
ct to be brought. A beautiful smile played
over her wan face as she assorted its con-
tents. She could get through ensily by two
O'Clock, yes and if she hurried, perhaps by
one. Love and anxiety lent new strength
to her weary arms; and in five minutes after
the clock struck one, she hangs the last gar
ment on the line, and was just about empty
ing her tubs when the mistress came in with
a couple of bed quilts, and saying, "as you
had small wash to-day, Adaline. think
you may do these yet" left the room again
A wall of agony, wrung from the deepest
fountain of her heart, gushed to her lips
Smothering it as best she could she again
took up the board, and rubbed, rinsed anC
hung out l. was half past three. wher
again she started for home--an hour loo late
And the aged narrator sobbed 9.
"Ap hour too late - continued she after q
hong pulse. "Har husband was dying-yes
; almost gone He had strength given him
to whisper a few words to The half frantic
wife--to tell her how he logged to look up
OF her face, and how till the clock strucl
TWO he could see, but after that though ht
; strained every nerve, he lay in the shadow o
death One hour piIlowed his head upor
, her suffering heart, and then-he ,oas at rest
"But for the thoughtless or grudging ex
: action of her mistress, she had once more
seen the love-light fash in her husband
: eyes, and he have looked upon who was 81
! dear.
! 1"Mary, Mary, dear" and there was
: soul-touehing emphasis in the aged woman
words, "be kind to your washerwoman; in
: stead of striving to make her days work a
e long as may be, shorten it, tighten it,
: 4 Stew women will 60 out to daily washin
: unless the r needs are -terrible.H No woma
J, Cd her bridal day expects to labor in tina
r way, and be sure my niece, if constrained
# do so it is the last resort. That poor wo
= man laboring NOW so hard for you has nc
I, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES She has see
It bright gladstone hours She has seen aw
n full trials, too. can read her story In he
i paie,' sad face.T Be kind to- her, pay her a
n she asks, and let her 60 home as early .
]. she can" .q ,S,,,oa ,,,ioh oaidtnn i
l., E.Le tty*f y W #aoar*smaAia l*5ee14
!. |ror You have finished in good season to,da,
D, Susan, p said Mrs. Merton, as the washel
i. woman, with her old cloak and lhoood.ol
v entered, the pleasant chamber 70 ask her pay
81 ra"i a"iYes, ema'am, ,thatoI have, andomy hear
|e ma'am,is relieved ofa heavy load, :too:S
u was so afraid should be kept tilIntght, ar
At&I n Y ~ s,i,a. HI .srs,s ~ Lo.na - at