Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-06-06
Gales and Skfifbfs.
PAMHLl's FACULTY.
By SOPHIE n. SWEET.

| They talked over Deacon Semplefs death
in the sewing circle. II was very sad that
he should have died. So suddenly, too.
Of pneumonia. poor man. But Mrs. CAL
kins. az whose house the society met that
week. could not help thinking that it
would have been very dull meeting if he
had not for since everybody had found
out just why Luke Judkins had been
obliged to mortgage his farm, and DR..
Saunders marriage with his housekeeper
had become an old story, there was abso-
lutely nothing to talk about. 1t was also
providential that he should die just after
planting was over. and before haying had
begun. He was growing very deaf. too,
and was always shifiless. Being deacon,
of course he was prepared. and there was
really net much To mourn for. except that
now Pamely would have to take care of
herself and Pamely had no faculty Ruthy
Ann could 60 on keeping school, as she
had done for years, and the twins, luckily,
were married. Pamely was the only one
that was left uDprovided for. Pamely was
one of the kind that always was unprovid-
ed for-the kind that had no faculty.
The farm was all run out and if it were
not, Pamely wouldn't know any better
than to expect TO raise pumpkins on a pea
vine. If she was farmers daughter she
didn't know but what potatoes came up
of their own accord, and wee1ed and dug
themselves. Mrs. Ichabod Badger (gen-
orally known as Mis- Ichabod) thought it
probable that she even supposed that ttey
washed themselves and jumped into the
dinner pot. And it was evident that sle
set a sight more by posies than she did by
| garden sass.
She was always littering up the house
with weeds and stuff out Of the woods, and
she drew pictures when she'd better have
been drawing candles or making soap.
She took after the Spencers-her mothers
folks. One Of them wasn't half witted,
and wrote verses. and another PAINTED pie
lures. and never amounted to ANYTHING.
And Pamely was headstrong; she never
seemed to pay any attention TO good ad-
vice. She was always as pleasant and
amiable about it as could be, but she
would go right on in her own way That
was like her father; when they tried to
dismiss the Rev. Mr.. Caldwell for un-
soundness of doctrine, Deacon Semple he
wouldn't agree to it. He didn't get ex-
cited and call hard names, as the others
did. but though thev argued and argued,
he wouldn't be convinced.
| Mis- Ichabod was of the opinion that a
committee of ladies ought to call upon
Pamely. and advise her to go and keep
house for old Hiram Hutchinson He had
large farm and two invalid daughters,
one afflicted with spinal disease, and the
other with epilepsy; so twas hard
place, and of course she would keep
everything at skies and sevens not having
any faculty; but old Hiram was willing
to take her. because he was very close,
and she would not expect much And
Mis- Hosea Blodgett added that, as Hiram
was widower, nobody knew what might
happen. He was over fifty and hard to
get along with. but then Pamely couldn't
be far from 25, and ought to be willing to
make a sacrifice for the sake of a home
Ben Seaverns. who used to keep company
with her, had gone off to sea five years be-
fore, and had probably got drowned. to
say nothing of being sbiftless good-for-
nothing. and surely there was no man in
Brimblecom who wanted to marry girl
without faculty.
Before the meeting adjourned. Mis-
Ichabod. Mis- Hosea Blodgett, and Miss
Nancy Perkins, the postmistress, were ap-
pointed committee to labor with PANE
There was no doubt about the zeal of
the committee. Bright and early the next
morning-so early, in fact, that the break
fast dishes were not washed in any town
except Brimbecom-the three ladies pre-
sented themselves at the front door of
Deacon Semple's late residence: front
doors were reserved for state occasions in
Brimblecom. The commit se after con-
sultation, had decided that this was an oc-
casion which rendered the use of the front
door appropriate. Keturah Grant, who
had been maid-of-all- in Deacon Sem
ple's family for half century, hobbled to
the door, and admitted them to the sitting
room: and there was Pamela with great
bunch of weeds-butter-c and clover
and white weeds-painting, actually paint
ing. at that time in the morning. She
wore high necked and long -sleeved
apron, which was bedaubed with paint,
and on her nose was smirch of bright
yellow.
The committee with one consent heaved
deep sigh.
"Seein' scrip.er commands us TO be
kind to the widow and the fatherless, we
thought we'd come and tell you that old
Hiram Hutchinson wants houskeeper,'
said Mis- Ichabod. who had been chosen
chief spokesman. in view of the "flow of
language" for which she was renowned.
Pamela turned an innocent. puzzled face
upon Mis- Ichabod-a a very lovely face.
with pure. pale skin. and soft, shy brown
eyes. though in Brimblecom. where rosy
checked beauties were the fashion, they
had never though of calling it so.
"Oh, the wid6wer! couldn't think for
the moment what you meant. Poor man
am sorry If he can't find one. But no
body could expect me to give up Keturah.
surely! She is growing too old and she
wouldn't leave me, anyway"
The committee looked at each other.
Their mission seemed somewhat diff
cult one to perform. Was Pamely so in
nocent as she looked? Mis- Ichabod had
dreadful suspicion that she was deep,
and she resolved not to be daunted.
I'VE thought you might like the place
yourself, seein' you was left so kind of
dependent" she said.
II? oh dear! l haven't the least bit
of faculty. you know and Pamela
laughed merrily.
Them that hain't any faculty have got
to try to do something. il they don't want
10 be objicks Of charity" /" said Mis- Ichabod.
II don't think Brimblecom will ever