Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1878 — “Not at Home.” [ARTICLE]

“Not at Home.”

A sign on a house on Croghan street informs the public that washing is done there, and it was quite natural that a mechanic working near by should take a bundle under his arm and call there and ask of the boy on the step : “Bub, is the washwoman in?” “ No, sir 1” was the prompt reply, “ there’s no washwoman here at all I” ~ “But that sign says washing done here,” remarked the man.

“ S’pose it does!” remarked the boy, in a higher key—“ s’pose it does ? A lady may become the victim of unfortunate circumstances to such an extent that she is willing to wash and iron shirts and sheets, but that doesn’t make a washwoman of her, does it?” “I thought it did,” said the man. “ Humph 1 If you draw a buggy down to the shop to be repaired, does that make a horse of you ?” Tie man was silently turning away when the boy added: “If you want to find the lady of unfortunate circumstances, go round to the side door, but the washwoman isn’t at home.” —Detroit Free Press.