The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-21
PAMELA'S FACULTY.
Sophie NJ. Sweet in Harper's Bazar.I

1loV talked over deacon OeInplo OeALl
In the sewing circle. 1t was very sad that
he should have died. So suddenly, too, OF
pneumonia, poor man. But Mrs. Calkins
at whose house the society met that week,
couldn't 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 mort
gage his farm, and DR.. Saunders marriage
with his housekeeper and become an old
story, there was absolutely 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 shiitless.
Being deacon, of course he was prepared
and there was really not much 10 mourn
for, except that now Pamely would have to
take care of herself, and Pamely had no fac
ulty. Ruthy Ann could go on keeping
school, as she had done for years, sRd the
twins, luckily, were married. Pamely was
the only one that was lett unprovided for.
Pamely was one of the kind that always
was unprovided 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 pea vine.
If she was farmers daughter she didn't
know but what potatoes came up of their
own accord, md weeded and dug themselves.
Mrs. IchaDod Badger generally known as
Mis- Ichabod) thought it probable that she
even supposed that they washed themselves
and jumped into the dinner pot. And it
was evident that she set sight more of
posies than she aid 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 draw
ing 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 pictures, and never
amounted to anything. And Pamely was
headstrong; and she never seemed TO pay
any attention to good advice. She was
always 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 unsoundness 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 they argued
and argued, he wouldn't be convinced.
Mis- lchabod was of the opinion that
committee of ladies ought to call upon Pa
mely, and advise her to go and keep house
for old Hiram Hutchinson. He had large
farm and two invalid daughters, one af-
fcted 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 wouldn't expect
much. And Mis- Hosea Blodgett added
that as Hiram was widower nobody knew
what might -ppen. He was over fifty,
and hard to get along with, but then Pa
Inely couldn't be far from twenty-five, and
ought to be willing to make sacrifice for
the sake of q home. Ben Seaverns, who
used to keep company with her. had gone
off to sea five years before, and ha8 prob.
ably got drowned, to say nothing of being a
shiftless good-for-nothing, and surely there
was no man in Brim blecom who wanted to
marry girl without faculty.
Before the meeting adjourned Mis- Icha-
bod, Mis- Hosea Blodgett and Miss Nancy
Perkins, the postmistress, were appointed
committee to labor with Pamely.
There was no doubt about the zeal of the
committee. Bright and early the next
morning-so early, in tact. that the break
fast dishes were not washed in any town
except Brimblecom-tne three ladies pre-
sented themselves at the front door of Dsa-
con Semple's late residences: front doors
were reserved for state occasions in Brim-
n,
had decided that this was an occasion which
rendered the use of the front door sppropri.
ate.
Ketursh Grant, who had been msid-of-
all-work in Deacon Semple's family for half
a century, hobbled to the door, and admit
ted them to the sitting-room; and there was
Pamela, with great bunch of weeds-but-
tercups and clover and white weeds-paint-
ing, actually painting, at that time in the
morningl She wore high-necked and
long-sieev ed apron, which was bedaubed
with paint, and on her nose was a smirch
OF bright yellow.
The committee with one consent heaved
q deep sigh.
"Seein' Scripter commands US to be kind
TO the widow and the fatherless, we thought
we'd come and tell you that old Hiram
Hutchinson wants a housekeeper," said Mis-
Ichabod, who had been chosen chief spokes-
man, in view of the "fow of language" for
which she was renowned.
Pamela turned an innocent, puzzled face
upon Mis- Ichsbod-s very lovely face, with
pure pale skin, and soft shy brown eyes,
though in BrimbIecom, where rosy-cheeked
beauties were the fashion, they had never
thought of calling it so.
"On, the widowerl l couldn't think for
the moment what you meant. Poor mani
am sorry if he can't find one. But nobody
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 difficult
one TO perform. Was Psmely so innocent
as she looked7 Mis- Ichabod had dread
full suspicion that she was deep, and she re-
solved not to be daunted.
I'VE thought you might like the place
yourself, seein' you was left so Kind of de-
pendent" she said.
"I7 Oh dearl l haven't the least bit of
faculty, you know" and Parmela laughed
merrily.
"Them that hain't any faculty have got
to try TO do something, if they don't want to
be objicks OF charity" said Mis- Ichabod.
81 don't think Brimblecom will ever have
to take care of me. IL it does, / am such q
little thing that it won't cost much.'
%kre was the suspicion of flush Oh Pa
meIa's cheek and tense look about her
mouth that the committee did not observe.
They only saw her laugh, and they arose in
high dudgeon.
u hope the time won't come when you
won't find 1t laughing matter" said Mis-