I am sure that I did not much look like a loving wife and mother as
I presided at the dinner table that day. The children never seemed
so restless and hard to manage; and I could not help speaking to
them, every now and then, "as if I would take their heads off;" but
to little good effect.

After my husband went away on finishing his dinner, I went to bed,
and cried for more than half the afternoon. Oh! how wretched I felt!
Life seemed an almost intolerable burden.

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."