The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-10-05

obliged" said Mrs. Pease. "And l
believe you've only done it to oblige
mel
sNG'' said Pamela. 81 did it to
earn The money. May I come next
MondayY'
"Why, gracious me! If you will"
said Mrs. Pease.
"Been to see Mrs. PeaseY' asked
curious Mrs. Chalker, peeping out
of her kitchen door as Pamela
passed
'Fve been washing for her." said
Pamela.
"Why, how christian kind of you,
to be sure" said Mrs. Chalker.
Nothing of the Sort" said Pa
mela. Il took my dollar for it
Have you your washerwoman, Mrs.
ChalkeIS"
aNo, I haven't and faint able to
wash" said Mrs. Chalker.
Pamela instantly offered her ser
vices.
81 am going to do Washing" she
said. I'm going to do it just as
other whasherwomen do, for money.
| shan't explain why. But here |
am splendid laundress, ready to
be hired six days in the week, from
seven to six if any one wants me"
So it began. Before long Pamela
had many employers and the village
was rife with suspicion as to the
why and wherefore; but never was a
girl prouder of herself than was Pa
mela when she laid down upon the
counter of a dry goods store the
money for the silk and fur of her
coveted cloak; hard earned money,
but all her very own, not cent Of
it coaxed out of any unwilling man
alive
She wore the cloak and a pretty
plush bonnet and new kid gloves to
church on Christmas day. She
looked well. The squire stared at
her solemnly, but he knew she had
no money.
81 reckon,1 he thought. ''she's cut
up her poor mas old black silk. I
won't ask any questions" and he
held his peace.
Pamela, as she looked at him,
wondered what he would say if he
knew all. That week she had had
some cards printed-professlonal
cards.
The printer brought them home
the next morning. They read thus;
"MIss PAMELA CRUMP-Laun-
dress. House-cleaning done in the
best manner. CRUMP HOUSE, -"
The cards were circulated through
the village by q boy hired for the
purpose, and on her return at night
from her days work, Pamela found
postal card awaiting her:
''Mlss CRUMP, Laundress-Please
call at Mr.. BothwelPs early tO-rnor
row. G. boutwell,.
Now Mr. Boutwell, was the new min
lister, a widower with two children. He
knew nothing of the Crumpsor of the
village as yet. He had preached
there once and been 'called" in con-
sequence, on the demise of the ex-
cellent Mr.. Dolorous, who had de
parted this life at ripe old age.
Pamela laughed a little as she de
termined to call and see what was
desired. At seven o'clock she rang
the bell of the pastors very small
house and was answered by the
gentleman himself. He was evi-
IDENTIFY in distress of mind and his
dressing gown needed mending very
much.
He looked at Miss Crump for a
moment and then requested her to
walk into his study. 1t was q dust ty
place with a good deal of manu-
script lying about; and the shrieks
of weeping children were heard in
distance.
MAY ask what can do for you,
MADAME inquired the gentleman
motioning to seat.
"You wrote to me-" said Pamela.
''Miss Crump, laundress."
ooh, dear me, yes" replied Mr..
Boutwell,, with wide open eyes-"I
wrote to you. Thanks for your
promptness. The fact of the matter
is, my housekeeper-an aged colored
person. thought her most estim-
able-is lying terribly intoxicated
on the kitchen floor, and has been
for two days, and things are are"
And Mr.. Boutwell,, running short
of words, spread his hands abroad
in pantomime descriptive of chaos.
Il understand" said Pamela,
calmly, "Where is your kitchenY'
Two hours afterwards the master
was calmly writing in his study,
and the children, washed and
dressed, were listening to the stories
Pamela told them as she rubbed
away at the wash board,
The housekeeper had been dumped
upon a bed in small bedroom on
the lower floor to sleep off her in
toxication, and potatoes were boil
ing and couple of chickens roast
ing for the family dinner.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Crump, having
some important documents to in
spect, had come home unexpectedly,
and, entering the house, had found
it empty, and in the sitting-room
came upon a sight which petrified
him with horror.
A little portable desk, which his
daughter had appropriated for her
own, lying open on the table and in
it the cards we have described, and
her account book.
He read the card first:
Miss PAMELA CRUMP-Laundress.
House-cleaning done in the best
manner
Then he ran his eyes over the ac-
count book.
Washed-Monday, for Mrs. Pease;
Tuesday, for Mrs. Chalker; Wednes-
day, for Mrs. Mott; iron, Thursday
afternoon; house-cleaning for Mrs.
Downs ON Saturday.
All this in a furious rage, almost
foaming at the mouth, until he came
to the following items.
Dec. 5th.-Bought the silk and
fur for cloak.
Dec. 10th.-Made cloak. 1t fits
well.
Dec. 25th.-Wore cloak to church,
and thanked heaven hadn't had
to beg it from father