Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-05-24

'Oh, Miss Pamela, I'm 80 mucl
obliged, said Mrs. Pease, and l be
, l;eve you've only done it to oblige me.
, NO said Pamela. 1 did it to earl
money. May | come next Monday
Why, gracious ne if you a0ill,
said Mrs. Pease.
Been to see Mrs PeaseY y asked
curious Mrs Chalker, peeping out o
her kitchen door as Pamela passed.
I've been washing for her, saiG
Pamela
Why, how Christian kind of you, to
be sure, said Mrs Chalker
Nothing of the Sort said Pamela
Il took my dollar for it. Have you
your wash-woman, Mrs Chalker p
No, haven't, and | amt able to
wash, said Mrs. Chalker.
Pamela instantly offered her services.
Pm going to go out washing, she
said. Pm going to do it just as other
washwomen do for money. [ shan't
explain why But here am. splen-
did lauadress, ready to be hired sin
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 supposition as to the why
and wherefore but never was girl
prouder of herself than was Pamela
when she laid down upon the counter
of 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 un-
willing 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 sol
emnly, but he knew she had no money.
Il reckon, he thought, she's cut up
her poor mas old black silk. l won't
ask any questions, and so he held his
peace.
Pamela, as she looked at him, won
dered what he would say if he knew
all That week she had some cards
printed-professon cards.
The printer brought them home
next 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 a postal
card awaiting her:
"MIss CRUMP, Laundress.-Please call at
Mr.. Bothwell's early tomorrow.
G. boutwell,"
Now, Mr.. Boutwell, was the new
minister, a widower with two children.
He knew nothing of the Crumps or of
the village as yet He had preached
there once, and been called in conse-
quence, on the demise of the excellent
Mr.. Dolorous, who had departed this
life at ripe old age. Pamela laughed
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 gentleman himself He was in
evident distress of mind, and his dress.
ing gown needed mending sadly.
He looked at Miss Crump for a mo-
ment and then requested her to walk
into his study 1t was dusty place
with good deal of manuscript lying
about and the sbrieks of weeping
children were heard in the distance.
May ask what / can do for you,
madam p inquired the gentleman, mo-
tioning to seat.
You wrote to me- said Pamela.
Miss Crump, laundress.'
oh, dear me, yes replied Mr.. Both
well, with wide-opcn eyes-1 wrote to
you. Thanks for your promptness
The fact of the matter is, my house
keeper-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 a
pantomime descriptive of chaos.
i 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 small bedroom on the
lower floor to sleep of her intoxication,
and potatoes were boiling and a couple
of chickens roasting for the family din
ner
Meanwhile, Mr.. Crump, having
some important documents to inspect,
had come home Unexpectedly, and en-
tering the house, had found it empty,
and in the sitting-room came upon
sight which petriied 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 ac-
count book.
He read the cards first:
Miss PAMELA CRUMp-Laundress. House
cleaning done in the best manner.
When he ran his eye over her ac-
count book;
Washed-Monday, for Mrs. Pease; Tuesday,
for Mrs. ChallSer; Wednesday, for Mrs. Mott;
iron, Thursday afternoon; house-cleaning for
Mrs. Down Saturday.
All this in q furious rage, and al
most foaming at the mouth, until he
came to the following:
Dec. 5th-Bought silk and fur for cloak
Dec lOth-Madc cloak. II its well.
Dec 2Gth-W0re cloak to church, and thank
ed heaven hadn't 10 beg il from father.
Then Mr.. Crump closed the book,
and with a queer disposition to cry,
sat down beside his solitary hearth
= and look at the fire for several hours
without stirring.
When Pamela opened the door ant
came in she saw her father, and knew
that he knew all.