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Then my mind grew more composed, and I tried to think about what was to be done. The necessity for having the clothes washed was absolute; and this roused me, at length, as the most pressing domestic duty, into thinking so earnestly, that I presently rang the bell for Netty, who came in her own good time.

“Tell Agnes that I want to see her,” said I, not in a very good-natured way.

The effect was that Netty left the chamber without replying, and slammed the door hard after her, which mark of disrespect set my blood to boiling. In a little while my cook made her appearance.

“Agnes,” said I, “do you know of any one that can get to do the washing this week?”

Agnes thought for a few moments, and then replied–

“There’s a poor woman who lives near my mother’s. I think she goes out to wash sometimes.”

“I wish you would step round and see if she can’t come here to-morrow.”

Agnes said that she would do so.

“Tell her she must come,” said I.

“Very well, ma’am.”

And Agnes withdrew.

In an hour she tame back, and said that she had seen the woman, who promised to come.

“What is her name?” I asked.

“Mrs. Partridge,” was answered.

“You think she won’t disappoint me?”

“Oh, no, ma’am. I don’t think Mrs. Partridge is the kind 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!