Womans Trials | Page 3

of a woman to
promise and then disappoint a person."
It was some relief to think I was going to get my washing done; but the
idea of having the ironing about all the week fretted my mind. And no
sooner was this leading trouble set aside, than I began to worry about
the children's clothes, and the prospect of losing my cook, who had
managed my kitchen more to my satisfaction than any one had ever
done before.
The promise for a pleasant hour at home was but little more flattering
to my husband, when he returned in the evening, than it had been at
dinner time. I was still in a sombre mood.
In the morning Mrs. Partridge came early and commenced the washing.
There was something in this woman's appearance that interested me,
and something in her face that reminded me of somebody I had seen
before; but when and where I could not tell. Although her clothes were
poor and faded, there was nothing common about her, and she struck
me as being superior to her class. Several times during the morning I
had to go into the kitchen where she was at work, and each time her
appearance impressed me more and more. An emotion of pity arose in
my bosom, as I saw her bending over the washing tub, and remembered
that, for this hard labour during a whole day, the pay was to be but
seventy-five cents. And yet there was an air of meek patience, if not
contentment, in her face; while I, who had every thing from which I
ought to have derived happiness, was dissatisfied and full of trouble.
While in her presence I felt rebuked for my complaining spirit.
At dinner time Mrs. Partridge came to my room, and with a gentle,
patient smile on her face, said--
"If you have no objections, ma'am, I would like to run home for a few
minutes to nurse my baby and give the children something to eat. I'll
make up the time."
"Go by all means," I replied, with an effort to speak calmly.
The woman turned, and went quickly away.
"Run home to nurse the baby and give the children something to eat!"
The words went through and through me. So unexpected a request,
revealing, as it did, the existence of such biting poverty in one who was

evidently bearing her hard lot without a murmur, made me feel
ashamed of myself for complaining at things which I ought to have
borne with a cheerful spirit. I had a comfortable, in fact a luxurious,
home, a kind and provident husband, and servants to do every thing in
my house. There was no lack of the means for procuring every natural
good I might reasonably desire. But, between the means and the
attainment of the natural blessings I sought, there were many obstacles;
and, instead of going to work in a cheerful, confident spirit to remove
those obstacles, I suffered their interposition to make me unhappy; and
not me alone, but my husband and all around me. But here was a poor
woman, compelled to labour hard with her hands before she could
obtain even the means for supplying nature's most pressing wants,
doing her duty with an earnest, resigned, and hopeful spirit!
"It is wicked in me to feel as I do," I could not help saying, as I made
an effort to turn away from the picture that was before me.
When Mrs. Partridge came back, which was in about half an hour, I
said to her--
"Did you find all safe at home?"
"Yes, ma'am, thank you," she answered cheerfully.
"How old is your baby?"
"Eleven months old, ma'am."
"Is your husband living?"
"No, ma'am; he died more than a year ago."
"How many children have you?"
"Four."
"All young?"
"Yes, ma'am. The oldest is only in her tenth year, but she is a good
little girl, and takes care of the baby for me almost as well as a grown
person. I don't know what I would do without her."
"But ain't you afraid to leave them all at home alone, for so long a
time?"
"No, ma'am. Jane takes excellent care of them, and she is so kind that
they will obey her as well as they do me. I don't know what in the
world I would do without her. I am certainly blessed in having so good
a child."
"And only in her tenth year!" said I--the image of my Alice coming
before my mind, with the thought of the little use she would be as a

nurse and care-taker of her younger brothers and sisters.
"She is young, I know," returned the washerwoman--"too young to be
confined down as much as she is. But then