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〃Dear me； you are ill indeed；〃 said the other woman。 〃e；cheer up； perhaps it will pass off。 No； indeed； I see you are reallyill； the best thing for me to do is to lead you home。〃
〃But my washing yonder？〃
〃I will take care of that。 e； give me your arm。 The boy canstay here and take care of the linen； and I'll e back and finishthe washing； it is but a trifle。〃
The limbs of the laundress shook under her； and she said； 〃Ihave stood too long in the cold water； and I have had nothing to eatthe whole day since the morning。 O kind Heaven； help me to get home； Iam in a burning fever。 Oh； my poor child；〃 and she burst into tears。And he； poor boy； wept also； as he sat alone by the river； near to andwatching the damp linen。
The two women walked very slowly。 The laundress slipped andtottered through the lane； and round the corner； into the street wherethe mayor lived； and just as she reached the front of his house； shesank down upon the pavement。 Many persons came round her； and LameMartha ran into the house for help。 The mayor and his guests came tothe window。
〃Oh； it is the laundress；〃 said he； 〃she has had a little drop toomuch。 She is good for nothing。 It is a sad thing for her pretty littleson。 I like the boy very well； but the mother is good for nothing。〃
After a while the laundress recovered herself； and they led her toher poor dwelling； and put her to bed。 Kind Martha warmed a mug ofbeer for her； with butter and sugar… she considered this the bestmedicine… and then hastened to the river； washed and rinsed； badlyenough； to be sure； but she did her best。 Then she drew the linenashore； wet as it was； and laid it in a basket。 Before evening； shewas sitting in the poor little room with the laundress。 The mayor'scook had given her some roasted potatoes and a beautiful piece offat for the sick woman。 Martha and the boy enjoyed these good thingsvery much； but the sick woman could only say that the smell was verynourishing； she thought。 By…and…by the boy was put to bed； in the samebed as the one in which his mother lay； but he slept at her feet；covered with an old quilt made of blue and white patchwork。 Thelaundress felt a little better by this time。 The warm beer hadstrengthened her； and the smell of the good food had been pleasantto her。
〃Many thanks； you good soul；〃 she said to Martha。 〃Now the boyis asleep； I will tell you all。 He is soon asleep。 How gentle andsweet he looks as he lies there with his eyes closed！ He does not knowhow his mother has suffered； and Heaven grant he never may know it。I was in service at the counsellor's； the father of the mayor； andit happened that the youngest of his sons； the student； came home。 Iwas a young wild girl then； but honest； that I can declare in thesight of Heaven。 The student was merry and gay； brave andaffectionate； every drop of blood in him was good and honorable； abetter man never lived on earth。 He was the son of the house； and Iwas only a maid； but he loved me truly and honorably； and he toldhis mother of it。 She was to him as an angel upon earth； she was sowise and loving。 He went to travel； and before he started he placeda gold ring on my finger； and as soon as he was out of the house； mymistress sent for me。 Gently and earnestly she drew me to her； andspake as if an angel were speaking。 She showed me clearly； in spiritand in truth； the difference there was between him and me。 'He ispleased now；' she said； 'with your pretty face； but good looks donot last long。 You have not been educated like he has。 You are notequals in mind and rank； and therein lies the misfortune。 I esteem thepoor；' she added。 'In the sight of God； they may occupy a higher placethan many of the rich； but here upon earth we must beware ofentering upon a false track； lest we are overturned in our plans； likea carriage that travels by a dangerous road。 I know a worthy man； anartisan； who wishes to marry you。 I mean Eric； the glovemaker。 He is awidower； without children； and in a good position。 Will you think itover？' Every word she said pierced my heart like a knife； but I knewshe was right； and the thought pressed heavily upon me。 I kissed herhand； and wept bitter tears； and I wept still more when I went to myroom； and threw myself on the bed。 I passed through a dreadfulnight； God knows what I suffered； and how I struggled。 The followingSunday I went to the house of God to pray for light to direct my path。It seemed like a providence that as I stepped out of church Ericcame towards me； and then there remained not a doubt in my mind。 Wewere suited to each other in rank and circumstances。 He was； eventhen； a man of good means。 I went up to him； and took his hand； andsaid； 'Do you still feel the same for me？' 'Yes； ever and always；'said he。 'Will you； then； marry a maiden who honors and esteems you；although she cannot offer you her love？ but that may e。' 'Yes； itwill e；' said he； and we joined our hands together； and I went hometo my mistress。 The gold ring which her son had given me I wore nextto my heart。 I could not place it on my finger during the daytime； butonly in the evening； when I went to bed。 I kissed the ring till mylips almost bled； and then I gave it to my mistress； and told her thatthe banns were to be put up for me and the glovemaker the followingweek。 Then my mistress threw her arms round me； and kissed me。 She didnot say that I was 'good for nothing；' very likely I was better thenthan I am now； but the misfortunes of this world； were unknown to methen。 At Michaelmas we were married； and for the first year everythingwent well with us。 We had a journeyman and an apprentice； and you wereour servant； Martha。〃
〃Ah； yes； and you were a dear； good mistress；〃 said Martha； 〃Ishall never forget how kind you and your husband were to me。〃
〃Yes； those were happy years when you were with us； although wehad no children at first。 The student I never met again。 Yet I saw himonce； although he did not see me。 He came to his mother's funeral。 Isaw him； looking pale as death； and deeply troubled； standing at hergrave； for she was his mother。 Sometime after； when his father died；he was in foreign lands； and did not e home。 I know that he nevermarried； I believe he became a lawyer。 He had forgotten me； and evenhad we met he would not have known me； for I have lost all my goodlooks； and perhaps that is all for the best。〃 And then she spoke ofthe dark days of trial； when misfortune had fallen upon them。
〃We had five hundred dollars；〃 she said； 〃and there was a house inthe street to be sold for two hundred； so we thought it would be worthour while to pull it down and build a new one in its place； so itwas bought。 The builder and carpenter made an estimate that the newhouse would cost ten hundred and twenty dollars to build。 Eric hadcredit； so he borrowed the money in the chief town。 But the captain；who was bringing it to him； was shipwrecked； and the money lost。Just about this time； my dear sweet boy； who lies sleeping there；was born； and my husband was attacked with a severe lingering illness。For three quarters of a year I was obliged to dress and undress him。We were backward in our payments； we borrowed more money； and all thatwe had was lost and sold； and then my husband died。 Since then Ihave worked； toiled； and striven for the sake of the child。 I havescrubbed and washed both coarse and fine linen； but I have not beenable to make myself better off； and it was God's will。 In His own timeHe will take me to Himself； but I know He will never forsake myboy。〃 Then she fell asleep。 In the morning she felt much refreshed；and strong enough； as she thought； to go on with her work。 But as soonas she stepped into the cold water； a sudden faintness seized her； sheclutched at the air convulsively with her hand； took one step forward；and fell。 Her head rested on dry land； but her feet were in the water；her wooden shoes； which were only tied on by a wisp of straw； werecarried away by the stream； and thus she was found by Martha whenshe came to bring her some coffee。
In the meantime a messenger had been sent to her house by themayor； to say that she must e to him immediately； as he hadsomething to tell her。 It was too late； a surgeon had been sent for toopen a vein in her arm； but the poor woman was dead。
〃She h