奇IntensiveStudy6 One day the washwoman, now nearly eighty years old,came to our house. A good deal of laundry had accumulatedduring the past weeks. Mother gave her a pot of tea to warmherself, as well as some bread.The old woman sat on a kitchenchair trembling and shaking, and warmed her hands againstthe teapot. Her fingernails were strangely white. These handsspoke of the stubbornness of mankind, of the will to work notonly as one's strength permits but beyond the limits of one'spower. It was sad to watch the old woman stagger out with thebigbundle and disappear
Intensive Study 6 One day the washwoman, now nearly eighty years old, came to our house. A good deal of laundry had accumulated during the past weeks. Mother gave her a pot of tea to warm herself, as well as some bread. The old woman sat on a kitchen chair trembling and shaking, and warmed her hands against the teapot. Her fingernails were strangely white. These hands spoke of the stubbornness of mankind, of the will to work not only as one’s strength permits but beyond the limits of one’s power. It was sad to watch the old woman stagger out with the big bundle and disappear
合Intensive StudyUsually the woman brought back the wash after two or,atthe most, three weeks. But three weeks passed, then four andfive, and nothing was heard of the old woman.8For us the washwoman's absence was a catastrophe. Weneeded the laundry. We did not even know the woman'saddress. It seemed certain that she had collapsed, died.Mother declared she had had a premonition that we wouldnever see our things again. We mourned, both for the laundryand for the old woman who had grown close to us through theyears she had served us so faithfully
Intensive Study 7 Usually the woman brought back the wash after two or, at the most, three weeks. But three weeks passed, then four and five, and nothing was heard of the old woman. 8 For us the washwoman’s absence was a catastrophe. We needed the laundry. We did not even know the woman’s address. It seemed certain that she had collapsed, died. Mother declared she had had a premonition that we would never see our things again. We mourned, both for the laundry and for the old woman who had grown close to us through the years she had served us so faithfully
合IntensiveStudyMore than two months passed.One evening, while Motherwas sitting near the lamp mending a shirt, the door openedand a small puff of steam,followed by a huge bundle,entered.Under the bundle tottered the old woman, her face as white asa linen sheet. Mother uttered a half-choked cry, as though acorpse had entered the room.I ran toward the old woman andhelped her unload her bundle.She was even thinner now, morebent. She could not utter a clear word, but mumbledsomething with her sunken mouth and pale lips
Intensive Study 9 More than two months passed. One evening, while Mother was sitting near the lamp mending a shirt, the door opened and a small puff of steam, followed by a huge bundle, entered. Under the bundle tottered the old woman, her face as white as a linen sheet. Mother uttered a half-choked cry, as though a corpse had entered the room. I ran toward the old woman and helped her unload her bundle. She was even thinner now, more bent. She could not utter a clear word, but mumbled something with her sunken mouth and pale lips
Intensive Studyo After the old woman had recovered somewhat, she told usthat she had been ill, veryill. In fact,she had been so sick thatsomeone had called a doctor, and the doctor had sent for apriest. Someone had informed the son, and he had contributedmoney for a coffin. But God had not yet wanted to take thispoor soul to Himself. She began to feel better, she became well,and as soon as she was able to stand onher feet once more,sheresumed her washing.Not just ours, but the wash of severalotherfamilies too
Intensive Study 10 After the old woman had recovered somewhat, she told us that she had been ill, very ill. In fact, she had been so sick that someone had called a doctor, and the doctor had sent for a priest. Someone had informed the son, and he had contributed money for a coffin. But God had not yet wanted to take this poor soul to Himself. She began to feel better, she became well, and as soon as she was able to stand on her feet once more, she resumed her washing. Not just ours, but the wash of several other families too
合Intensive Study11“I could not rest easy in my bed because of the wash, theold woman explained. “The wash would not let me die."12"With the help of God you will live to be a hundred andtwenty," said my mother
Intensive Study 11 “I could not rest easy in my bed because of the wash,” the old woman explained. “The wash would not let me die.” 12 “With the help of God you will live to be a hundred and twenty,” said my mother