The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-15

Tears dropping from the lids Of her
wash-woman's eyes into the white suds
of the laundry tub, attracted the
attention Of South Side matron the
other day, and she made sympathetic
inquiry as to what was the trouble. In
her homely way, between sohs, the
brawny laundress told tale the pathos
Of which made her tender-hearted au-
ditor oliver with indignation.
Twas a year ago to-day my good
man breathed his last, God bless his
SOUL" she began, In an honest, Irish
broRue which seemed to carry convlc-
ton with 1t straight to the heart OF the
libtcrer. TWAS on Friday. ! was
at tue hospital Thursday with bit Of
Jelly and some Wild flowers / had pick
ed in the field TO cheer him with, and
Molly, says he, would ye mind tixin'
up some OF those ginger cakes like We
know how to make. and bring them
Sunday? I feel can eat EN-
II was goin' out washin'-had been
ever since he was took sick with pneu
mOny-every day, mum, and 1t was with
heavy heart left the hospital that
Thursday night when the doctor said
my good man might not get over 1t, he
was that weakened Friday and Sat
urdny ! worked early and late. making
my bit OF money each day, and Satur-
day night after put my childer to bed
| stirred the batter and made the GIN
ger drops. had 'em out in my basket,
with neat napkin around EN- that
had been In the family for years, and
l tried to look as cheerful MS could,
with the thought he would be pleased to
have the little cakes"
There was pause. in which the
washer woman rubbed the clothes and
sObbed as II she would choke.
Ike was dead. mum" she continued.
after an effort. "His body was all
cold in the morgue since the Friday
morning, and they hadn't let me know,
mum, they hadn't let me know a word.
ard there were the cakes what he had
wanted so bad and he hadn't had them
ufore he went. II was two days he
had been there, so cold, two days,
num-"
There was another pause. during
Whlsh the tears OF both women Moved
freely. and the rubbing was con-
Linued:
Nov. mum. my Tom nor me had
never begged nor borrowed a cent. and
when vat sick with the rheumatism
IN the hospital he had such care TOOK
OF me as befitted queen, and with the
thing by him as he had done for me.
hut with our misfortune we hadn't any
thing ahead. what with doctorin' bills,
clothes for the children and every
thing. So didn't want him 70 be took
10 the pRuper's grave. | didn't mum.
~ didn't want to go to the nelghbnrs,
as wouldn't have them point the I'm
ger at the childer, and say as how they
had helped pay for buryin' their
father, so | bcthought me of goin' to
my landlord, what had been getln' his
IS rent from us every month for 1--WE
years since we were we'd The landlord
had been mean man, something's, but
| thought TO myself how he'd be sure to
be ElRd to help me for the once, which
was the only time had asked him"
81 don't want Tom to be took to pau
PEE ground says l tn him. we al
wuyR come up with our duties SIR
gnyH. What do you wnnt?' says he
geverc-like. oh. air. says !. won't
yOII help me give Tom a black coffin
and n lot on consecrnted groundT I'd
q .rathCr he'd hit me than say what he
did. what's the difference he said
wouldn't It be better that he'd be cut
up in n hospital than that You should
be nround dlsgracln' his name a-beg-
yIn'2 he snid Don't you think you
eau roux anything out OF me- says he
md went away, without KNOWN
where I went, With Tom cold In the
rnOTgue, and everything. l KEEP awake
In until saw policeman, and then
/ went TO the police station and told
them what he had Enid to me. They
said what he'd said wasn't nothin' that
no could be arrested for, but God blcss
ON, they raised $50 between EN- and
gave my Tom n decent burial. And
We mustn't say nothln' 10 me agln the
policemen. mum, but when think ! had
10 go to them ] cry, mum, and when
think OF the little ginger cakes Tom
wanted 40 bnd and had to die without"
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