Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-11-25
THE POOR WAsHlERWONlAN
DY MRS. CAROLINE A. soULE.

| ~ uOWu. w uy you wv, "N"S' W.
very small wash to-day; so small that ~
san will get through by one Or two o'cloc
ut least, and I shall have to pay her just
much rs though sho worked till night; an
so-'
stop moment, DEAR" said the old Ia
dy gently, stop moment and think
Suppose that you were in the situation tha
Susan is; obliged to toll as hard over tn
wash tub six days out Of the seven for tn
bare nccessaries of life, wouldn't yode b.
glad once in while, before dark. to have I
few hours of daylight to labor for yoursel
and family, Or better still, few hours t
rcst2 Mary, dear, it is hard way for
woman to earn her living; bcgrudge no
the poor woman her half dollar. This il
the fourth day in succession that she ha!
risen by candle light and plodded through
the cold to her customers houses. Let hel
20 at noon if she gets through. Who
knows but she may have to come from the
| sick couch Of some loved one, and that she
counts the hours-yes the minutes-tll she
can return, fearing even she may come one
too late. Put it back on the bed, and sit
down while tell you what one poor washer
woman endured because her employer did
as you would to make out a wash" And
the old lady took off her spectacles and
wiped away the tear drops that for SOME
cause had gathered in her aged eyes, and
then with tremulous voice related the fol-
lowing story.
''There was never morcs sblithsomc mar
riage than Adalinc Raleish's. There was
never maiden that went to the marriage
altar with higher hopes or more blissful
anticipations. Wedding the man Of her
choice he, whose loved tones had ever filed
her heart like musicgush from the land
Of light, a young, talented, noble fellow,
one of whom any woman might well beproud,
it was no wonder that morn seemed golden
waif from Eden. Few indeed have sun
nier life in prospect than had she. For ten
years there fell no shadow on her path
Her house was,one of beauty and rare lux
ury, her husband the same kind, loving man
as in the days of courtship, winning laurels
every year in his profession, adding comforts
to his home and joys to his fircside. And
besides these blessings, God had given
another: little crib stood by her bedside
its tenant rosy baby boy, the image Of
its father, and dcarer to those welded low
ers than aught else earth could offer.
'But must not dwell upon those happy
days; my story has to do with other ones.
1t was with them as oft it is with others
just when the beam is the brightest, the
clouds begin to gather. A series Of mis-
fortunes and reverses occurred with start
ling severity, and swept from them every
thing but love and their baby boy. Spared
to that and to one another, they bore brave
heart, aud in a distant city they began anew
their fortune. Well and strongly did they
struggle, and at length they began to see
the sunlight Of prosperity shine again on
their home. But little while and The
shadows fell. The husband sickencl, and
lay for months on his couch languishing,
not only with mental and bodily pain, but
oftimes for food and medicine. All that
she could do, the wife performed with will
ling hand. Sho went from one thing to
another till, at length, she who had worn q
satin gurb and pearls upon her bridal day,
toi!ed at the wash tub for the scantiest living.
Long before light she would rise every
morning, and toll for the dear ones at home
and then with many a kiss upon the lips Of
her pale companion and sleeping boy, start
out through the deep, cold snow, and grope
her way to the too often smoky kitchen, and
toll there at rubbing, scalding. rinsing,
starching-not unirequently wading knee
deep through the snow, to fasten her freez-
ing clothes upon the line. And when night
came, with her half dollar, she would again
grope through the snow to her oftimes
lightless and freless homeland oh, with
what shivcring heart would she draw near
to them, fearing ever she would be too late.
1t is fact that for six weeks at one time
she never saw the face of her husband or
child, save by lamplight, except only on
the Sabbath. How glad she would have
been to have had once in o while small
wash gathered for her!
Zone dark winter morning, as she was
busily preparing the frugal breakfast and
getting everything ready before she left, her
husband called her to his bedsid. "Ada,"
said he, almost in a whisper, II want you
should try to get home carly tonight, be
home before sundown, do, Ada"
"I'll try" answered she with choked
utterance.
"Do try, Ada. I have strange desire to
see your face by sunlight. To-day is Fri
day; l have not seen it since Sunday; I
must look upon it once again."
"Do you feel worse Edward :" asked she
anxiously, feeling as she spoke.
"No, no, think not; but I do want to
see your face once by sunlight. I cannot
wait till Sunday"
"Gladly would she tarry by his bedside
till the sunlight stole through their little
window, but it was not to be. She was pen
niless, and in the dusk Of morning must go
forth N lobor. She left him with sweet