Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-05-24
SELECT.
Pamela Crump's Esedpade.

present head OF the family, was very
proud of his ancestors. He was about
the meanest man in money matters
ever known. He had driven his boys
from home by his niggardiiness; and
now that his wife was dead his daugh'
ter Pamela was all that he had left
She was a handsome, strong, we'll
made girl, with good mind, although
he had given her the very poorest ed
ucation and no accomplishments what
ever, She worked in his house
without help, or thanks, or even re-
ward of any kind her only consolation
being that she was Miss Crump.
Much good that does me-, she used
to say, as she toiled away to save her
rich father few more dollars
Girls who had no grandfathers to
boast about, had accomplishments and
good clothes, and comforts and pleas
ures of all sorts which she never knew,
and which her father could well afford.
At last, on her nineteenth birthday,
after she had longed in silence for many
days. Pamela grew bold. Long, fur
lined cloaks were just coming into
fashion, and how she wanted one, only
a'girl can know
1t was while her father sat counting
over a great roll of bills, which he had
just received as the rent of certain
property, that she went softly behind
him, and said, meekly:
Pa, can | have one of those large
black silk cloaks, such as Betsy Bur-
roughs wears-one with fur lining ?
/ will make it myself 1t will wear
for years. o, pa, | do so want it y
and she paused, with hands uncon-
sciously clasped together
Mr. Crump looked at her, horror
stricken.
"A silk cloak, with fur lining!' he
repeated slowly. No, you can't Pa
mela; it's too expensive. Get your
poor mas gray blanket shawl and
wear that out. Pm sure she'd be
willing
Poor mas shawl had moths in it
two years before she died. sighed Pa
mela. She couldn't wear it, and you
never knew. pa, you don't know how
badly off | am / have outgrown my
sack, and look like fool in it. | have
boys shoes and hat-oh, dear, such
a hat l cannot really go out any
where
Women should be keepers at home,'
said Mr. Crump.
Certainly ought to 60 to church,
said Pamela.
Not to show fine Clothes said Mr.
Crump.
But I ought to dress like lady,
sighed the poor girl Il should think
you'd admit that, pa?,
Ladies are not always most dress
ed said Mr. Crump. Far from it.
You are Miss Crump. Remember the /
Crumps are the oldest family it Potts
ville'
'Oh, / know all that, pa, interrupt
ed Pamela but it does no good if
must go about looking like a beggar.'
Mr.. Crump brought his cane down
on the floor, and thundered out: Hold
pour tongue, Pamela buttoned his
book into his bosom, and trotted away
to deposit the money, while Pamela,
scarlet from brow to chin, remained
where he had left her.
%, what shall / do? she exclaimed
at last is this woman's fate to beg
all her life? have no education. |
cannot teach. | can do nothing but
household work Pm the best washer
in the village, but There cried
Pamela, bringing her foot down on the
floor suddenly. There I've got it.
A girl who can wash and iron as | can
doesn't need to beg for her clothes
Brushing her tears away, she ran
into the entry, took from peg her
shabby sack and hat, put them on,
locked up the house, and hurried down
the village street as fast as her young
limbs could carry her, until she stopped
at little white house, at the low win
dow Of which she tapped. A little
girl opened the door, and Pamela fol-
lowed her into the sitting room, where
a thin woman sat, amidst cushions, in
a big Boston rocking-cbair, with
brand new baby across her knee, two
older ones on the floor near her, and
two little boys building block house
on the table, while the little girl who
opened the door made the sixth Of the
youthful group.
why, Miss Pamely,' said the moth
er, how pleased am to see you Ex-
cuse my getting up. | amt strong
yet. / was thinking when you came
whether or no | should be able to
darn that place in the carpet, but /
don't feel / shall Nurse has gone
away, and sister can't come, because
her husband is down with malaria, and
Pm awfully unsettled
You must be- said Pamela, dan
ding the baby. why, what a little
beauty it is, Mrs. Pcase. ! suppose
you've got a washerwoman this week 2
No, I havn't It's my worst trou-
ble,' said Mrs. Peace. i had Kitty
bring the things, and they are all sort
ed out; but black Barbara is engaged
up on the hill, and don't know what
III do
Hire me, said Pamela.
My = laughed Mrs. Pease. why,
Miss Crump.'
Il mean it, said Pamela. i wash
better than black Barbara, and ! want
to earn some money. You can pay
me what you pay her, Mrs Pease.'
"A dollar day said Mrs. Pease
but gracious, Miss Pamela you canI
mean itl'
j mean it from my heart, said Pa
mela. PA thinks more Of his money
than he does Of me- Pm going to earl
clothes for myself. / need them, I'm
sure
Men are so peculiar sometimes,
sighed Mrs. Pease. If you really
mean it, it will be great comfort t.
me-
/ Pamela instantly took of her bonne