Suppose
I pay you by the month hereafter; it will save me a great deal of
trouble, and I will try to give you your dollar a month regularly."
Phoebe's pale cheek waxed still more ghastly as Mrs. Percy spoke,
but it was not within that lady's province to notice the colour of a
washerwoman's face. She did, however, observe her lingering, weary
steps as she proceeded through the yard, and conscience whispered
some reproaches, which were so unpleasant and unwelcome, that she
endeavoured to dispel them by turning to the luxurious supper which
was spread before her. And here I would pause to observe, that
whatever method may be adopted to reconcile the conscience to
withholding money so justly due, so hardly earned, she disobeyed the
positive injunction of that God who has not left the time of payment
optional with ourselves, but who has said--"The wages of him that is
hired, shall not abide with thee all night until the morning."--Lev.
19 chap. 13th verse.
The husband of Phoebe was a day labourer; when not intoxicated he
was kind; but this was of rare occurrence, for most of his earnings
went for ardent spirits, and the labour of the poor wife and mother
was the main support of herself and four children--the eldest nine
years, the youngest only eighteen months old. As she neared the
wretched hovel she had left early in the morning, she saw the faces
of her four little ones pressed close against the window.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133