The-Washwoman

TheWashwomanOurhomehadlittlecontatwithGentiles.ButthereweretheGentilewashwomenwhocametothehousetofatchourlaundry.Mystoryisaboutoneofthese.Shewasasmallwoman,oldandwrinkld.Whenshestartedwashingforus,shewaswlresdypastseventy,weak,brokeninbody.Butthiswashwoman,smallandthinasshewas,possessedastrengththatcomefromgenerationsofpeasentancestors.Motherwouldcountouttoherabagoflaundrythathadaccumulateedoverseveralweeks.Shewould;ifetheheavybag,loaditonhernarrowshoudlers,andcarryitthelongwayhome.Itmusthavebeenawalkofanhourandahalf.Shewouldbringthelaundrybackabouttwoweekslater.Mymotherhadneverbeensopleasedwithanywashwoman.Everypieceoflaundrywsaascleananpolishedsilver.Everypiecewasneatlyironed.Yetshechargednomorethantheothers.Swasarealfind.Motheralwayshadhermoneyreahy,becauseitwastoofarfortheoldwomantocomeasecondtime.Washingclotheswasnoteasyinthosedays.Theoldwomanhadnotapwhereshelived,buthadtobyinginthewaterforapump.Fortheclothesandbadclothestocomeoutsoclean,theyhadtobescrubbed,thoughlyinawashtub,rinsedwithwashingsoda,soaked,boiledinanenormouspot,starched,thenironed.Everypiecewashandledtentimesormore.Andthedrying!Ithadtobehungintheattic.Shecouldhavebeggedatthechurchdoororenterahomeforthepoorandaged.ButtherewasinheracertainprideandloveoflaborwithmanyGentileshavebeenblessed.Theoldwomandidnotwanttobecomeaburden,andsoboreherburden.Thewomanhadasonwhowasrish.Inolongerrememberwhatsortofbusinesshehad.Hewasashamedofhismother,thewashwomen,andnevercometoseeher.Nordidheevergiveheranymoney.Theoldwomantoldthiswithoutbitterness.Onedaythesonwasmarried.Itseemedthathehadmadeagoodmatch.Theweddingtookplaceinachurch.Thesonhadnotincitedtheildmothertohiswedding,butshewenttothechurchandwaitedthestepstoseehersonleadtheyongladytothealtar...Thestoryofthefaithlesssonleftadeepimpressiononmymother.Shetalkedaboutitforweeksandmonths.Itwasaninsultnotonlytotheoldwomanburtoallmothers.Motherwouldargue,Doseitpaytimakesacrificesforchildren?The,otherusesupherlaststrength,andhedoesnotevenknowthemeaningofloyalty.Thatwinterwasaharshone.Thestreetswereicy.Nomatterhowmuchweheatedourstove,thewindoeswerecoveredwithfrost.Thenewspapersreportedthatpeopleweredyingofthecold.Coalbecamedear.Thewinterhadbecomesoseverethatparentsstopsendingchildrentoschool.Ononesuchdaythewashwoman,nownearlyeightyyearsold,cometoourhouse.Agooddealoflaundryhadaccumulatedduyingthepastweeks.Mothergaveherapotofteatowarmherself,aswellassomebread.Theoldwomansatonakitchenchairtremblingandspeaking,andwarmedherhandsagainsttheteapot.Herfingerswereroughfromwork,andperhapsfromarthritis,too.Herfingernailswerestrangelywhite.Thesehandsspokeofthestubbornnessofmanking,ofthewilltoworknotonlyasone'sstrength.