The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-10-05
Pamela's Escape.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

lEHE Crumps were, or considered
E themselves, the very first peo-
lsyS0 pie in Pottsville, and Josiah
SSS Crump, the present head of
the family, was very proud of his
ancestors. He was about the mean
est man in money matters ever
known. He has driven his boys
from home by his niggardliness; :;
and now that his wife was dead his
daughter Pamela was all that he
had left. She was a handsome,
strong, well-made girl, with a good
mind, although he had given her
the very poorest education and no
accomplishments whatever. She
worked in his house without help,
or thanks, or reward 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 a few dollars
more.
Girls who had no grandfather to
boast about had accomplishments
and good clothes, and comforts and
pleasures 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 fash
ion, and how she wanted one, only
girl can know.
1t was while her father sat count
ing a great roll of bills, which he
had just received as the rent for Ger
tain property that she went up soft
ly behind him and said meekly:
''Pa, can | have one of those large
black silk clOaks, such as Betsy
Burroughs wears-ene with fur lin
ing? Oh, pa, 1 do so want itr' and
she paused, with hands unconscious
ly clasped together.
Mr.. Crump looked at her horror
stricken.
ga silk cloak, with fur liningp
he repeated, slowly. mo you can't,
Pamela; its too expensive. Get
your poor mas gray blanket-shawl
and wear that out. I'm sure she'd
be willing"
"Poor mas shawl had moths in it
two years before she died." sighed
Pamela. ''She couldn't wear it, and
you never knew, pa, you don't know
how badly off 1 am. I've outgrown
my sacque, and look like a fool in
it. 1 have boys shoes and a hat
oh dear, such a hatl I cannot
really go out anywhere
women should be keepers at
home" said Mr.. Crump.
Certainly 1 ought to go to
church, " said Pamela.
''Not to show fine Clothes" said
Mr.. Crump.
':But L ought to dress like lady"
sighed the poor girl. 81 should
think you'd admit that, pap"
Ladies are not always most
dressed" said Mr.. Crump. "Far
from it. You are Miss Crump.-
Remember the Crumps are the old
est family in Pottsville.''
ooh, 1 know all that, pa" inter
rupted Pamela; but it does no good
if L must go about looking like a
beggar."
Mr.. Crump brought his cane down
on the floor, thundered out, "Hold
your tongue, Pamela" buttoned his
pocket-book into his bosom, and
trotted away to deposit the money,
while Pamela, scarlet from brow to
chin, remained where he had left her.
ooh, what shall l dor she ex-
claimed at last. 'Is this woman's
fate, to beg all the days of her life?
L have no education. 1 cannot
teach. can do nothing but house
work. l am 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 a peg her
shabby sacque and hat, put them
on, locked up the house, and hur-
ried down the village streets as fast
as her young strong limbs could
carry her, until she stopped at q
little white house at the low window
of which she tapped. A little girl
opened the door, and Pamela fol
lowed her into a sitting-room where
a thin woman sat, amidst cushions,
in a big Boston rocking chair, with
n brand new baby across her knee,
two elder ones on the floor near her,
and two little boys building a block
house on the table, while the little
girl that had opened the door made
the sixth of the youthful group.
"Why, Miss Pamela" said the
mother, chow pleased l am to see
you! Excuse my not getting up.
l amt strong yet. 1 was thinking
when you came in whether or no |
should be able to darn that place in
the carpet but l don't feel 1 shall.
Nurse has gone away, and sister
can't come, because husband is down
with malaria, and I'm awfully un-
settled"
"You must be-" said Pamela,
dandling the baby. "Why, what a
little beauty it is, Mrs. Pease. 1
suppose you've got washer-woman
this week?"
mo, 1 haven't. It's my worst
trouble" said Mrs. Pease. II had
Kitty to bring the things, and they
are all mended and sorted out; but
black Barbara is engaged up on the
hill, and don't know what I'll do. p"
Hire me-" said Pamela.
''MyT laughed Mrs. Pease =
why, Miss Crumpr'
Il mean it." said Pamela. Il
wash better than black Barbara, and
l want to earn some money. You
can pay me what you pay her, Mrs.
Pease."
"a dollar day." said Mrs. Pease;
''but gracious, Pamela, you can't
mean it."
II mean it from my heart" said
Pamela. "Pa thinks more of his
money than he does of me. I'm GO
ing to earn my clothes for myself.
l need them, I'm sure"
"Men are so peculiar sometimes"