Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-06-25
Miseellau&ons. s..
THE room wAsHERwOmAN

THE POOR wAsHERwOMAN
~ declare 1 have half mind to put this
bedquilt into the wash to-day. 1t does moi
need to 60 either; but think will send il
down."
"Why will you put it in, Mary, If it does
not need to go9' asked her good old aunt,
in her quiet, expressive way.
"Why, you see,aunt, wo have but small
wash to-day; so small that Susan will get
through by one O'clock at the latest, and ]
shall have to pay her the same as though
she worked on till night So"
"Stop q moment DEAR" said tho old Ia.
dy, gently, "stop moment and think
Suppose you wero in the situation poor Su-
san is, obliged, you tell me, to toll over the
wash tub six days out of seven, for the bare
nccessarics 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 to rest? Mary dear, it is hard
hard way for woman to earn living; be,
grudge not the poor creature an easy day
This is the fourth day insuccession she has
risen by candlelight and p!odded through
the cold here and there to her Customers
houses, and toiled away existence. Let her
go 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 tho minutes, till she can return.
fearing that she may be ono too late! Put
it back on the bed, and sit down here while
| tell you what one poor washerwoman on
dured, because her employer did as you
would to mako out the wash" And the ole
woman took off her glasses, and wiped
away the tears that from some cause hac
gathered in her aged eyes, and then with
tremulous voice related tho promised story
"Thero never was moro blithesome bri
dal than that of Ada R Mono ev.
or had higher hopes or moro bIissful antici.
pations. Wedding tho man of her choice
one of whom any woman might be proud
few indeed, had SUMMER life in prospect
than she had
"And for ten years there fell no shadow
across her path. Her homo was one ol
beauty and rare comfort; her husband the
same kind, gentle, loving man, as in the
days of courtship; winning laurels every
year in his profession; adding new comfort,
to his homo, and new Joys to his freside.-
And besides these blessings, God had civ
81 azother; little crib stood by the bed
side, its tenant a golden haired baby boy
the image of its nobio father and dcare
than aught else Garth could offer.
"But must not dwell on those happ,
days; my story has 10 do with other ones
1t was with them as it often is with other
just when the cup was sweetest, it wa
dashed away. A series of misfortunes an,
reverses occurred with startling rapidity
and swept away from them everything bu
love and their babe. Spared to one anoth
er and to that, they bore bravo heart, ant
in distant city began a new fortune. Wei
and strongly did they struggle, and a
length began once more to soc the sunlight
OF prosperity shine upon their home. Bu
q little while it staid, and then the shadow:
fell. Tho husband sickened, and lay fol
many month upon weary couch, Ian
gushing not only with mental and bodily
pain, but oftentimes for food and medicines
All that she could do tho wife performed
with a faithful hand. She went from one
thing to another, till, at length, she who hac
worn satin garment on her bridal day
toile at the wash tub for the scantiest living
In dreary wintes long. before light, sh,
would rise morning after morning, and la
Dor for the dear ones of her lowly home
Often shc had to set off through the cold
deep snow, and grope her way to kitchens
which were sometimes smoky and gloomy
and toll at rubbing, rinsing, starching, no
unfrequsntly wading knee-doep in drifts, t.
hang out the clothes that froze even ere sh,
had fastened them to the line. And whel
night came, with her scanty earnings, sh,
would again grope through tho cold ant
snow to her oft times lightless and freles
homo; for her husband was too sick, mucl
Of the time, 10 tend even to the fire or strik,
a light. And, o, with what a shivorine
heart she would draw near, ever fearing sh,
would be too late! 1t is a fact that for 81,
weeks, at one time, she never saw the face
of her husband or her child, save by lamp
light, except only on the Sabbath. How
glad she would have been TO have had ono,
in while, a small washing gathered for her
"One dark winter morning, as shc wa.
preparing the frugal breakfast and getting
everything ready before she left, her hus
band called her to the bedside. ,-~ NJ
"Ada," said he, in almost a whisper, q
want you to try and get home early tonight
bo home before tho light goes do, Ada.p
Tll try" answered she with choked ut
terance. '
"Do try Ada. have strange desire
to see your face by daylight: to-day is Fri
day; ! have not seen it since Sunday.
must look upon it once again."
"Do you feel worse n asked she anxiously
feeling his pulse as she spoke.
"No, no, think not; but l do want K
GAA "a.