The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-08-08
THE POOR WAsHERWomAN.

81 declare 1 have half mind to put
this bed quilt into the wash to-day. 1t
does not really need to go, either; but ]
think I'll send it down
"Why will you put it in, Mary, if it
does not need to go?' asked her good old
aunt in her quiet and expressive way.
'Why, 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 1 shall have to pay her the
same as though she worked till night, So"
'fStop a moment, dear, said the old
lady gently, E'stop a moment, and think.
Suppose you were in the same situation
as poor Susan is, obliged, as you tell me,
to toll over the wash-tub six days out of
the seven, for the bare necessaries of life,
would you not be glad once in while to
get through before night, to have few
hours of daylight to labor for yourself and
family, or better still, a few hours to rest p?
Mary, dear, it is hard, hard way for a
woman to earn living; begrudge not the
poor creature an easy day. This is the
fourth day in succession she has risen by
candle light, and plodded 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 she came from the sick bed Of some
loved one, and counts the hours, yes, the
minutes, till she can return, fearing that
she may be one too late? Put it back on
the bed, and sit down here, while | tell
you what one poor wash-woman endured
because her employer did as you would to
make out the wash" And the old wo-
man took off her glasses and wiped away
the tears that from some cause had gather
ed in her aged eyes, and then with a
tremulous voice related the promised story.
'sThere was never more blithesome
bridal than that of Ada r. None ever
had higher hopes-more blissful anticipa-
tions. She married the man of her choice,
one of whom any woman might be proud.
Few, few, indeed, had a SUMMER life in
prospect than she had
EAnd for ten years there fell no shadow
on her path. Her home was one Of
beauty and real comfort; her husband the
same kind, loving man as in the days of
courtship, winning laurels every year in
his profession, adding new comforts to his
home and new joys to his fresidc. And
besides these blessings God had given
another; little crib stood by the bedside,
its tenant golden haired baby boy, the
image of its noble father, and dearer than
aught else could offer.
"But must not dwell on those happy
| days-my story has to do with other days.
1t was with them as it has often been
with others just when the cup was the
sweetest it was dashed away. A series
of misfortunes and reyerses occurred with
startling rapidity, and swept away from
them everything bat love and their babe.
Spared to each other and to that. they
bore brave heart, and in a distant city
began a new fortune. We'll and strongly
did they struggle, and at length began
once more to see the sunlight of prosperity
shine upon their home. But little while
it stayed and then the shadows fell. The
husband sickened and laid for many months
| upon a weary couch, languishing not only
with mental and bodily pain, but often
times for food and medicine. All that
she could do, the wife performed with a
faithful hand. She went from one thing
to another, till at length she who had worn
a satin garment on her bridal day toiled
at the wash-tub for the scantiest living.
In dreary winter, long before light, she
would rise morning after morning, and
labor for the dear ones Of her lonely home
Often she had to set off through the cold
deep snow, and grope her way to kitchens
which were sometimes smoky and gloomy,
and ioi there at rubbing, rinsing, and