Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-06-25

| "Gladly would she have tarrled by his
bedside ill sunlight had stolen through
their little window; but It might not be-
Money was wanted, and she must 60 forth
to labor. She left her husband. She
reached the kitchen Of her employer, and
with n troubled face waited for the basket
to be brought a smile played over her
wan face as she assorted The contents. Sho
could get through easily by two o'clock !;
yes, and il she hurried perhaps hy one.--
Love and anxiety lent new strength 10 her
weary arms; and five minutes after the
clock struck ono she hung tho last garment
on the line, and was just about emptying
her tubs, when the mistress came in with
couple Of bed-quilts, saying
"As YOU have so small wash to-day
Ada, | think you may do these yet" Af
ter the mistress had turned her back, cry
of agony wruug from the deepest fountain
Of the washerwoman's heart gushed to her
lips. Srnothering it as best she could, she
set to again, and rubbed, rinsed, and hung
out. 1t was half-past three when she
startcdfor home, and an hour TOO late ~
and the aged narrator sobbed.
"An hour too late" continued she, after
$ a long pause. "IIer husband was dying;
t yes, almost gonel He had strength given
t him to whisper few words to the half
frantic wife, to tell her how he longod 10
, look upon her face that he could not sec
her then, he lay in the shadow of death
One hour she pillowed his head upon her
suffering heart; and then-he wdS at rest Z"
u "Mary, Mary DEAR" and there was soul
touching emphasis in tho aged woman's
words, "be kind to your washorwoman: in
stead of striving to make her days work as
long as may be, shorten it, tighten it. Few
women will go out 20 washing daily, unless
their needs arc pressing No woman on her
. bridal day expects to labor in that way ;and
, be sure my niece if she is compelled to do
so, it is the last resort. That poor woman,
/ laborng now SO hard for you, has not al
ways been washerwoman. Sho has seen
' better days. She has passed through ter
riblc trials too. can read her story in her
, pale, sad face. Be kind to her; pay her
what she asks, and let her go homo as carly
) as she cam
"You have finished in good time to-day,
Susan" said Mrs. M, as the washer
, woman, with her old cloak and hood on, en-
tered the pleasant room to get the money
, she had earned.
eyes, ma'am l have; and my heart is
relieved Of a heavy load, too. | was so
/, afraid [ should be kept until night, and |
am needed so at home"
, SIS there sickness therei' said the old
i aunt, kindly.
Tears gushed to the wnman's eyes ms she
answered "Ah maaml left my baby
a most dead this morning; he will bc quite 50
{: tomorrow l know it, l have seen it too
many times; and none but child of nine
years to terd to him. Of 1 must 90, and
: quickly" And, grasping the money she
/; had tolled for while her baby was dying,
: she hurried to her dreary home.
t Shortly after they followed her; the
young wife who had mover known a sorrow,
and the aged matron whose hair was white
f with trouble, followed her to her home, the
0 homo of tho drunkard's babes. She was
, not too late. The little dying boy knew it:
v mother. But at midnight he died, and
s then kind hands took from the sorrowina
mother the breathlcss form, closed the brigh
> eyes, Strengthened tho tiny limbs, bathcc
/ the cold clay, and folded about it tho pur
:, white shroud; yes,and did more-they gave
# what tho poor SO seldom have, time to ,0eep
80, Aunt" said MIS-. NJ, will
Y tears in her eyes, "if my heart blesses you
J. how much moro must poor Susan's! Hac
$ it not been for you, she would have bee,
IS too late. 1t has been sad yet holy les
d son. shall always now be kind to tn
:, poor washer woman. But aunt was th
It story you told me true one--aH true
!. meanP
d "The reality of that story whitened thi
Il head when it had seen but thirty summers
It and the memory of it has been one of my
t keenest sorrows. It is not strange shoule
pity the poor washerwoman--W Wesleya,
S Family Visitor. v.4e ~.