The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-07-22
From the Wesleyan Family Visitor.
The Poor Wash herwonan.

aaE - ss.-p..s 10 asi.5 '-i
"I declare have half mind to put this
bed-quilt into the wash to-day. 1t does not
really need to 60 either; but think will
send it down." .f es4 ea. n
"Why will you put il Ia, Mary, II IL does
not need to 60 :" asked her good old aunt,
In. her quiet and expressive way. l.,e
"Wby, you see, aunt we have but small
wash to day; SO small that Susan will get
through by one O'Clock at the latest, and
sha Il have to pay her the same as though
she worked till night; So" ss-si,a
"Stop moment, DEAR" said the old lady
gently, "stop moment and think. Suppose
you were in the situation poor Susan is
obliged, you tell me, TO toll over the wash.
tub six days out of seven, for tho bare ne
cessariei Of life, would you not be glad,
once in while, to get through before night
to have few hours of daylight to labor fol
yourself and family, or better still, few
hours tc rest! Mary, dear, ii is hard, hard
thing for woman to eatn living; begrudge
not the poor creature an easy day. This is
the fourth day in succession she has risen
by candlelight and plodded through the cold
here and there to her customers houses, and
toiled away existence. Let her 60 at noon
if she gets through; who knows but that she
may have come from the sick bed OF some
loved one, and she counts the hours, yes the
minutes, till she Can return, fearing that she
may be one to late? Pot it back on the bed,
and sit down here while l tell you hat one
poor washerwoman endured because her en-
ployer did as you would to make out the
wash" And the old woman took off her
glasses, and wiped away the tears that for
some cause had gathered in her aged eyes,
and then with tremulous voice, related the
promised story.
"There never was more blithesome bri.
dal than that of Ada R. None ever had
higher hopes, more blissful aniicipations.
Wedding the man Of her choice; one OF
whom she might be proud; few, indeed, had
a SUMMER life in prospect than she.
And for ten years there fell no shadow on
her path. Her home was one OF beauty and
rare comfort; her husband the same kind,
gentle, loving man as in the days of court
ship-winning laurels every year iu his pro.
fession-adding new comforts to his home
and new joys to his freside. And besides
these blessings God had given another; a
little crib stood by the bedside, it's tenant, a
golden haired baby boy, the image of it's no.
BILE father. and dearer than aught else earth
could afford. ....
But | must not dwell on those happy days;
my story has to do with other ones. II was
with them as it has often been with others
just when the cup wos sweetest it was dash
ed away. A series Of misfortunes and re.
verses occurred with startling rapidity, and
swept away from them everything but love
and their babe. Spared to one another and
that. they bore brave beart, and in dis.
tant city began new fortune. Well and
strongly did they struggle, and at length be-
gan once more 10 see the sunlight of pros.
perity shine upon their home. But little
while it stad, and then the shadows fell.
The husband sickened, and lay for many
month upon weary couch, languishing not
only with mental and bodily pain, but often
times for food and medicines. All that she
could do, the wife performed with a faithful
hand. She went from one thing TO another,
til at length, she who had worn satin gar
went on her bridal day, toied at the wash h.
tub for the scan tiest living. In dreury
winter, long before light she would rise
morning after morning, and labor for the
dear ones of her lowly home. Often she
had to set of through the cold, deep snow,
and grope her way to kitchens, which were
sometimes smoky and gloomy, and toll at
rubbing, rinsing, starching, not unfrequent.
Iy wading knee deep in the drifts, to hang
out the clothes that froze, even ere she had
fastened them to the line. And when night
came, with her scanty earnings she would
again grope through the cold and snow to
her ofttimes lightless and freless home; for
her husband was too sick, much of the time,
to tend even to the Ere or strike light.
And o, with what shivering heart she
would draw near, fearing ever she would be
too late. 1t is fact that for six weeks, al
one time, she never saw the face of her hus-
band or her child, save by lamp light, except
on the Sabbath. How glad she would have
been to have had, once in while, small
washing gathered for her!
One dark winter morning, as she was pre-.
pairing the frugal breakfast, and getting ev.
cry thing ready before she left, her husband
called her to the bedside.
"Ada," said he, in almost whisper, 81
want you to try and get home early tonight;
be home before the light goes; do, Ada"
"I'lltry," answered she, with choked
utterance.
"Do try, Ada. have strange desire to
see your face by daylight. To-day is Fri.
day; I have uot seen it since Sunday;
must look upon it once again."
"Do you feel worse o. asked she anxious.
ly, feeling his pulse as she spoke.
"No. no. think not, but / do want to see
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