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

y declare, have mind to pnt this
: bed quilt mo the wash to day 1t does
not really nced TO -, either, Lu, think
will scud it down.
Y Why viii vou put it in. May, ifrt
does not need to go 2 asked her good old
eaunt IN her quiet and expressive way.
= 'Why, You see, aunt, we have hut u
small wash To day; So sma'I that Susan
twlIl get through 10y one o'clock at the
atest; and shall have to pay her the
Hame as though she worked I'LL night,
80
Stop moment, dear said the old la
Gy gently, stop moment and think -
SSuppo>e YOU vera in the situation poor
pSusan s-oGIg"h, YOU tell me, to toll
pver tho wash,uh six days out of seven,
tor the bare necessities OF Iiie--would you
.Dot be glad once in while 10 get through.
Before night, To- have IA few hours Of day.
~ ght to labor for yourself and family or
better still few hours to rest Mary
dear, it is hard, hard way for woman
90 earn living; begrudge not the poor
: cresture an easy day. This is the fourth
,day, in succession she has risen by candle
flight, and plodded through tue cold here
: and there TO hen customers houses, and
Z toicd away existence. Let her 20 at
\ noon If she gets through; who knows but
isthat she may have come from the sick
bed of some loved one and she counts the
shours-yes, the minutes-,ill she can re-
turn, fearing that she may be one too
Ifle! Put ii back on the bed, and sit
I; ;2down here while i toll YOU what one poor
sSasherwoman endured, because her EN-.
lloyer did ss you would to make out the
|. wash And the old woman took off her
! glasses aud wiped away the tears that
from some cause had gathered i'll her aged
Dyes, and then with tremulous voice re
jate0 the promised story:
There never was q mere blilhsome bri.
Stlal than that Of Ada Il. None ever had
Nhigher hopes, more biissfu anllcpations.
I've edding the man OF her choice, one Of
whom any womm might well he proud
.F-tew, indeed. had n SUMMER life in pros
spect than she had.
" And for ten years there fell no shadow
pn her path. Her home was one OF beau
ty and rare comfort, her husband the
pane kind, gentle, loving man rs in the
lsya of courtship; winning I"ures every
year in his profession; adding new com
i4tors TO his home, and new joys To his
r kITeslde. Aud besides these blessings
Dd had given another; l.tle crib stood
- the bedside, its tenant a goldeu.haired
baCy boy, the image OF its noble father,
aad dearer than aught else earth could
offer.
I But ! must not dwell on those happy
days, my story has to do with other ones
II was with them rs il has often been
q with others-just when the cup was
sweetest il was dashed away. A series
n Of misiortunes and reyerses occurred with
startling rapidity, and swept away from
& them every thing but love and their babe.
8 Spared 10 one another and to that, thew
= bore a brave heart, and in a distant city
began new fortune. We'll and strongly
81 did they struggle, and at length began
8 once more TO see the sun OF prosperity
q shine upon their home. But little while
y il staid, and then the shadows fell. The
husband sickened, and lay for many
month upon weary couch, languishiRv
not only with mental and bodily pain,
but o6eniimes for food and medicines.---
. All that she could do the wife performed
with a faithful hand. She vent from one
Ting to another Gil al length she who
had Won, satin Carmen, on her bridal
day, ,oiled ~ the washtub for the scan
test living. IN a dreAry Winter, long