The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-01-12

/ AT ruoblng, flnSlng, aud StarChIup, not
unfrequently wadirg knee deep in he
drifts to hang out the clothes that froz.
even ere she had fastened them to the
line. And when night came with her
scantv earning she would again gropc
through the cold snow 10 her oft times
( lightless aud iireless home; for her hus
band was too sick much of the time 10
tend even to the fire or strike a light -
And, ., with what a shiveriug heart she
would draw near, iearin. ever size would
be too late 1t is a fact that for six weeks
at one time she never SAW the face of her
husband or her child save hy amp,iuh,
except on the Sabbath. How clad She
would have been TO have had. once IN a
while, small washing gathered for
her
One dark winter morning, as she Wa
preparing the frugal breakfast and ret.
ting everything ready, before she left, her
husband called her to his bedside.
Ada, SAID he, in almost a whisper,
want You to Try and get home early to
night; I've home before the light goes {;
do, Ada
Ill Try answered she, with a choLcd
uUcrauce.
DO try, Ada. have q strange desire
to see your face 10y daylight, to day is
Friday: have not seen it since Sunday.
must look upon il once again.
DO YOU feel worse 2 asked she anxi
ousIv, feeling his pulse rs she spoke.
No, no, think not; but do want to
see your face once more 10y sau.igh,. !
cannot wait till Sunday.
Gladly wouId she have tarriel hv his
bedside ill sunlight had stolen through
their little window but it might not be-
Motley was wanted; and She must 90
for,h to labor She has left hcr husband.
She reached the kitchen OF her cmplo, cr,
and with troubled face waited for has
Net to ho brought. \ smile played over
her wan face AS she assorted II, cuutentS
She could ea.nv get throusD. bv two o.
clock, yes, and # she hurried perhaps by
one. Love atl Anxiety lent new strength
to. her weary arms and five minutes at
ter the clock struck one she huHr The last
garment upon tho line, aud MAS Jus, =
hou, cmptyiHg her tubs when tie mistress
came in with u couple Of bel quilts, SAY
ing:
AS you have so small a wash 20 dav,
Ala, think you may dc these vet Az
ter the mistress had turned her back, n
cry of agoHy, wruug from the deepest
fountain of the washerwomal heart,
gushcd to her lips. Smothcring it rs
best she could, She set To- again, aud ruh,
bed, rinsed, amG hung out. 1t Was half
past three whoa she started for home, an
hour too late " aud the aged narrator
sobbed
AN hour too late continued she. after
long pause. Her husband was gone
lie had strength given hn TO whisper a
few words TO the halt frantic wife, to tel
her how he had Ionged to look upon her
face ; that he could not see her then; he
lay ia the shadow OF death. One hour
she pjiiowcd his head upon her suffering
heart; and thet-he W., at rest
Mary, Mary dear, dear and there was
a soul touching emph SIS in the agel
wcman's words, do be kind to your
wash woman; instead of STRIVING to make
her days work as long as may lie, shor
ten IT, tighten IT Few women will 60 out
to washing DALEY, unless their needs are
pressing. No woman on her brida! day
expects TO labor IN that way and be,
sure, my niece, if she is constrained 10
do so, 1t is the last resort. That poor
woman, laborine, now so hard for you,
has not always been washerwoman.-
She has seen bater days She has pass.
ed through terrible tria's too. can read
her story in her pale, sad face. BE kind
to her; pay her what she asks, and let
her go home as early ms she can
'Iou have finished in good time to day,
Susan said Mrs. NJ, rs the wash.
erwoman, with her old cloak and hood
on, entered the peasant room TO get the
money she had canned.
Yes, ma'am, have aud my heart,
ma'am, is relieved Of heavy load, too.
vas so afraid should be kept uii night
| am needed so ~ home
'lS there sickness there ? said the old
aunt. kindly.
Tears gushed to the woman'S eyes ~
she answered "ah, ma'am! | left Inv ba,
by most dead this morning he will be
qui,e so to.morrov. know it, have
seen it too many times and none bit
child Of nine years 10 attend to him. O.
| must 60, and qt'ckly' And grasping
tie money she bal loied for while her
baby WAS dying, Sle hurried to her drea
ry home.
Shortly after Tiny followed her the
Young wife she bad never krown sor
row, and the aget matron, whose hair
was white with ro,bIe, followed her to
her home. the home Of the drunkard's
babes. She was not too late. The little
dying bov knew It's mother. But at md
night he died, aud ihen kind hands took
from the sorrowing mother the breathiess
form closed the bright eyes, suaightened
the tiny limt~, bs,hci the cold clay, aud
Z