Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-08-14
FAYETTEVILLE "A, WHOLE NO. M


Iher bridalSday, toiled at the wash-tub
for the scantiest living. Long be-
fore light she would rise every morn
Ing, and labor for the dear ones of
her lowly home, and then, with many
a kiss upon the lips Of her pale
companion and sleeping boy, start
through the cold deep snow. and
grope her way to the too often smoky,
gloomy kitchen, and toll there at
rubbing, pounding, rinsing, starching,
mot unfrequently wading knee-deep
in the drifts, to hang out the clothes
that foze even ere she had fastened
them to the line. And when night
came, with her half, dollar, she; would
grope through the cold and snow to
her oft times ightless and freless
home, for her husband was too sick
much Of the time, to tend even to
the fire or strike alight. And O.,
with what a shivering heart she would
draw near them, fearing ever she
would be too late. 1t is fact, that
for six weeks, at one time, she never
saw the face of her husband or her
child, save by lamp-light, except on
Sabbath. How glad she would have
been to have once in a while small
washing gathered for her
'One dark winter morning, as-she
was busy preparing the frugal break
fast and getting everything ready
ere she left, her husband called her
to the bedside.
sAda,' said be, in almost whisper,
4 want you should try and get home
early tonight be home before
sundown, do, Ada
1'll try answered she with q
choked utterance.
DO try, Ada. I haye strange
desire to see your face by sunlight
to day is friday have not seen
il since Sunday must look upon
it once again.
DO you feel worse, Edward?' ask.
ed she anxiously, feeling his pulse
as shesspoke.
! No, no, ] think not; but I do want
to see your face once more by sun
light. l cannot wait till Sunday
Gladly would she tarry by bis bed
side,s till the sunlight should have
stolen through their little window
but it might not be. She was penni-
less, and in the dusk. of morning
must go forth to labor. She left him,
sweet kisses were given and taken,
and sweet words whispered in the
sweetest love tones. She had reach
ed the kitchen of her employer, and
with a troubled face waited for the
basket to be brought. A beautiful
smile played over her wan face as she
assorted it's contents. She could get
through easily by two o clock, yes if
she hurried, perhaps by one. Love
and anxiety lent new strength to her
weary arms, and five minutes after
one o'clock. she hangs the last gar
ment on the line, and was just a.
bout emptying her tubs, when the
mistress came in with a couple of bed
quilts saying:
i sAsyou have so small a wash to-day
j Adaline, ] think you may do these
yet,'' and left the room again. A
wall Of agony, wrung from the foun
: tain Of her heart, gushed to her lips
Smothering it as best che could, sh'
: again took up the board. and rub
D bed, rinsed, and hung out. 1t wa
half past three, when again sh'
3 started d for home-an hour too late!
B And the aged narrator sobbed.
t .An hour too late,' continued she
. after a long pause. lHer husban
t waa dying-ye almost gone! II
s had strength given him to whisper
d few words to the half frantic wife-t
/ tell her how he had longed to loo
: upon her face, and till the cloc
: struck two, he could see, but not a
{, ter that, though he strained ever
) neve, he lay in the shadow Of deatl
Il one hour she pillowed his head upo
d her suffering heart-and then, he wt
e at rest !!
n But for the thoughtless and grut
it ing exaction of her mistress, she ha
: once more seen the loye-hght fus
,r in her husbands eye. and he hay
b, looked upon her who vas so dear.
ID MARY, my DEAR apd there was
ID soul-touching emphasis in the age
Id woman's words,sbe kind toyour was
III Ierwoman; instead of striving to NAL
TO her davis work as long as may /