criedthelaundress,turningpaleasdeath.

"yes,certainly,"repliedmartha;"butwhydoyoutakeitsomuchtoheart?isupposeyouknewhimyearsago,whenyouwereinservicethere?"

"ishedead?"sheexclaimed."oh,hewassuchakind,good-heartedman,therearenotmanylikehim,"andthetearsrolleddownhercheeksasshespoke.thenshecried,"oh,dearme;ifeelquiteill:everythingisgoingroundme,icannotbearit.isthebottleempty?"andsheleanedagainsttheplank.

"dearme,youareillindeed,"saidtheotherwoman."come,cheerup;perhapsitwillpassoff.no,indeed,iseeyouarereallyill;thebestthingformetodoistoleadyouhome."

"butmywashingyonder?"

"iwilltakecareofthat.come,givemeyourarm.theboycanstayhereandtakecareofthelinen,andi'llcomebackandfinishthewashing;itisbutatrifle."

thelimbsofthelaundressshookunderher,andshesaid,"ihavestoodtoolonginthecoldwater,andihavehadnothingtoeatthewholedaysincethemorning.okindheaven,helpmetogethome;iaminaburningfever.oh,mypoorchild,"andsheburstintodhe,poorboy,weptalso,ashesatalonebytheriver,neartoandwatchingthedamplinen.

thetwowomenwalkedveryslowly.thelaundressslippedandtotteredthroughthelane,androundthecorner,intothestreetwherethemayorlived;andjustasshereachedthefrontofhishouse,shesankdownuponthepavement.manypersonscameroundher,andlamemartharanintothehouseforhelp.themayorandhisguestscametothewindow.

"oh,itisthelaundress,"saidhe;"shehashadalittledroptoomuch.sheisgoodfornothing.itisasadthingforherprettylittleson.iliketheboyverywell;butthemotherisgoodfornothing."

afterawhilethelaundressrecoveredherself,andtheyledhertoherpoordwelling,andputhertobed.kindmarthawarmedamugofbeerforher,withbutterandsugar-sheconsideredthisthebestmedicine-andthenhastenedtotheriver,washedandrinsed,badlyenough,tobesure,butshedidherbest.thenshedrewthelinenashore,wetasitwas,andlaiditinabasket.beforeevening,shewassittinginthepoorlittleroomwiththelaundress.themayor'scookhadgivenhersomeroastedpotatoesandabeautifulpieceoffatforthesickwoman.marthaandtheboyenjoyedthesegoodthingsverymuch;butthesickwomancouldonlysaythatthesmellwasverynourishing,shethought.by-and-bytheboywasputtobed,inthesamebedastheoneinwhichhismotherlay;buthesleptatherfeet,coveredwithanoldquiltmadeofblueandwhitepatchwork.thelaundressfeltalittlebetterbythistime.thewarmbeerhadstrengthenedher,andthesmellofthegoodfoodhadbeenpleasanttoher.

"manythanks,yougoodsoul,"shesaidtomartha."nowtheboyisasleep,iwilltellyouall.heissoonasleep.howgentleandsweethelooksasheliestherewithhiseyesclosed!hedoesnotknowhowhismotherhassuffered;andheavengranthenevermayknowwasinserviceatthecounsellor's,thefatherofthemayor,andithappenedthattheyoungestofhissons,thestudent,camehome.iwasayoungwildgirlthen,buthonest;thaticandeclareinthesightofheaven.thestudentwasmerryandgay,braveandaffectionate;everydropofbloodinhimwasgoodandhonorable;abettermanneverlivedonearth.hewasthesonofthehouse,andiwasonlyamaid;buthelovedmetrulyandhonorably,andhetoldhismotherofit.shewastohimasanangeluponearth;shewassowiseandloving.hewenttotravel,andbeforehestartedheplacedagoldringonmyfinger;andassoonashewasoutofthehouse,mymistresssentforme.gentlyandearnestlyshedrewmetoher,andspakeasifanangelwerespeaking.sheshowedmeclearly,inspiritandintruth,thedifferencetherewasbetweenhimandme.'heispleasednow,'shesaid,'withyourprettyface;butgoodlooksdonotlastlong.youhavenotbeeneducatedlikehehas.youarenotequalsinmindandrank,andthereinliesthemisfortune.iesteemthepoor,'sheadded.'inthesightofgod,theymayoccupyahigherplacethanmanyoftherich;buthereuponearthwemustbewareofenteringuponafalsetrack,lestweareoverturnedinourplans,likeacarriagethattravelsbyadangerousroad.iknowaworthyman,anartisan,whowishestomarryyou.imeaneric,theglovemaker.heisawidower,withoutchildren,andinagoodposition.willyouthinkitover?