St. Landry democrat., 1882-04-29

morning. They read thus:
"MIss PAMELA CRUMp-Laundress House.
cleaning done in the best manner. CRUMp
HOUSE, ---.
The cards were circulated through
the village by boy hired for the pur
pose. and on her return at night from
her days work, Pamela found postal
card awaiting her:
"M1ss CRUMP. Laundress-Please call at MIR.
Bothwelfs early tomorrow.
G. boutwell,"
Now, Mr.. Boutwell, was the new min
lister, widower with two children. He |
knew nothing of the Crumps or of the
village as vet. He had preached there
once, and been " called" in conse-
ouence, on the demise of the excellent
Mr.. Dolorous, who had departed this
life at ripe old age. Pamela laughed
a little as she determined 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 gentle
man himself. He was in evident dis
tress of mind, and his dressing gown
needed mending sadly.
He looked at Miss Crump for mo-
ment and then requested her to walk
into his study. 1t was dusty place
with good deal of manuscript lying
about; and the shrieks of weeping
children were heard in the distance.
Inlay | ask what can do for you,
MADAME inquired the gentleman, mo.
tioning to a seat.
"You wrote to me-" said Pamela.
"Miss Crump, laundress."
"Oh, dear me, yes" replied Mr..
Boutwell,, with wide-open eyes-''I
wrote to you. Thanks for your prompt
ness. The fact of the matter is, my
housekeeper--an aged colored person
I thought her most estimable-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.
II understand" said Pamela calmly.
"Where is your kitchen?"
Two hours afterward 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 bed in a small bedroom on the
lower floor to sleep off her intoxication,
and potatoes were boiling and couple
of chickens roasting for the family din
ner.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Crump, having some
important documents to inspect, had
come home unexpectedly, and entering
the house, had found it empty, and in
the sitting-room came upon 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 &C.
count book.
He read the cards first: .s-.
MISS PAMELA CRUMP-Laundress. House
cleaning done in the best manner.
Then he ran his eye over the account
book:
!. Washed-Monday, for Mrs Pease: Tuesday,
iron Thursday afternoon; housekeeping for
Mrs. Down on Saturday.
All this in a furious rage, and almost
foaming at the mouth, until he came to
the following:
1
Dec. 1Oth.-Made cloak. 1t fits well.
Dec. 25th.-Wore cloak to church, and
thanked Heaven hadn't had to beg it from
father.
Then Mr.. Crump closed the book, and
with queer disposition to cry, sat down
, beside his solitary hearth and looked at
the fire for several hours, without STIR
ring.
: When Pamela opened the door and
came in, she saw her father, and knew
that he knew all. Ef f.E C-
.sPamela, come here,' - he said. "How
long has this been going on?"
ssSince October, pa" the girl an
!, swered. af E#
Il "Then you've been disgracing me
and yourself for three MONTHS said the
: old man. sssYou, Crump! and all to
spite your poor old father for being care
full Of his money
Pamela was not afraid of her father
| now, She came over and sat beside
I him. .ses = .v,.sg. =.
"Pa," she said, cit was not fol
l spite; it was for need; ! suffered SC
much modification, not only from being
D shabby, but having to beg. II there is
anything in good blood, as you think
. there is, perhaps. that made it hard FOL
i me to beg from even you. I was hap
pier earning what I needed.s Would you
D like to be beggar, PAP
"You'ye done very wrong, Pamela
said her father. Then he paused, AND
e added: You shall tell me what allow
r ance you need for your clothes, and I'll
t let you have it monthly. Now give me
l those cards.
n He burnt them in the fire when she
e had handed them to him, and she hur
ried away to get his tea, and no more
d was said. The Crumps were not grea
s takers.
j I.-.p.4 paa1a l. ,, 81 .orr.z Cor. .ulof oh,