Pre-reading Activities My mother prayed that the washwoman would live many more years And who would want such a long life the washwoman responded. "I am so tired of working, and i do not want to be a burden to anyone.” The washwoman finished her tea and promised to return in a few weeks. But she never came back. On the night she sat in our kitchen, her work was finally done
Our washwoman was small, old and wrinkled. When she started washing for us, she was already past seventy. But she was proud and strong from her lifetime of hard work. Every two weeks, my mother would give her a large bundle of laundry, and the washwoman would put it on her narrow shoulders and carry it all the way home. And without fail, she would bring our clothes back two weeks later, cleaned and neatly folded. The washwoman had a wealthy, ungrateful son who did not help his mother. But she never complained. She quietly did her work and asked no one for help. Pre-reading Activities One time, however, the washwoman did not return as expected. One month passed and then another, and we became very worried. Finally, one evening, the door opened and the washwoman entered with a huge bundle of laundry on her back. We could see that she was even thinner now and more bent. As she sat warming herself with her cup of tea, she told us that she had been very, very ill. “But I could not rest easy in my bed because of the wash,” she said. “The wash would not let me die.” My mother prayed that the washwoman would live many more years. “And who would want such a long life!” the washwoman responded. “I am so tired of working, and I do not want to be a burden to anyone.” The washwoman finished her tea and promised to return in a few weeks. But she never came back. On the night she sat in our kitchen, her work was finally done
Intensive Study Intensive Study Difficult sentences Key words, phrases usages Comprehension exercises
Intensive Study Intensive Study • Difficult sentences • Key words, phrases & usages • Comprehension exercises
Intensive Study The Washwoman by lsaac Bashevis singer i She was a small woman old and wrinkled. when she started washing for us, she was already past seventy. Most Jewish women of her age were sickly and weak. all the old women in our street had bent backs and leaned on sticks when they walked. But this washwoman, small and thin as she was, possessed a strength that came from generations of peasant forebears. Mother would count out to her a bundle of laundry that had accumulated over several weeks. she would then lift the bundle, put it on her narrow shoulders, and carry it the long way home
Intensive Study The Washwoman by Isaac Bashevis Singer 1 She was a small woman, old and wrinkled. When she started washing for us, she was already past seventy. Most Jewish women of her age were sickly and weak. All the old women in our street had bent backs and leaned on sticks when they walked. But this washwoman, small and thin as she was, possessed a strength that came from generations of peasant forebears. Mother would count out to her a bundle of laundry that had accumulated over several weeks. She would then lift the bundle, put it on her narrow shoulders, and carry it the long way home
Intensive Study 2 She would bring the laundry back about two weeks later. My mother had never been so pleased with any washwoman Yet she charged no more than the others she was a real find Mother always had her money ready, because it was too far for the old woman to come a second time
Intensive Study 2 She would bring the laundry back about two weeks later. My mother had never been so pleased with any washwoman. Yet she charged no more than the others. She was a real find. Mother always had her money ready, because it was too far for the old woman to come a second time
Intensive Study 3 Laundering was not easy in those days. The old woman had no running water where she lived but had to bring in the water from a pump. And the drying! It could not be done outside because thieves would steal the laundry. so it had to be carried up to the attic and hung on clotheslines. Only god knows what the old woman had to endure each time she did a wash!
Intensive Study 3 Laundering was not easy in those days. The old woman had no running water where she lived but had to bring in the water from a pump. And the drying! It could not be done outside because thieves would steal the laundry. So it had to be carried up to the attic and hung on clotheslines. Only God knows what the old woman had to endure each time she did a wash!