Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-06-28


does not seem to matter whether
they are or not" said the minister.
If Mis- Ichabod had not stood very
much in awe ofthe minister, he would
have then and there received "a piece
Of her mind" as she afterward de-
clared; for If there was anything that
provoked her beyond endurance, it
was a close-mouthed person" But
as he was the minister, there was
nothing to do but 20 take leave OF
him with a GOODNESS and dignity
which should give some token of their
displeasure.
AS if he couldn't tell them just as
well as not who wanted to hire
Pamely TO do houseworkl But there
was one comfort-the committee
knew that there was nothing going
on in Brimblecom that they couldn't
find out.
And just after she had expressed
that opinion Mis- Ichabod was so
overcome by some sudden thought
that she fairly gasped, and leaned for
support against the town pump,
which proyidentially stood in her
way.
~ heard that Joanna Leach want
ed to go home because her sisters
twins had the measles. The minister
wanted Pamely to keep house for
himl" she gasped.
"Well, Mis- Ichabod If you hnin't
got an understanding worth havin'l
And though | never breathed it to a
mortal before, I've had my suspic-
ions that the minister want all he'd
ought TO be" exclaimed Mis- Hosea
Blodgett.
II never knew n man to have one
white eyebrow for nothing" said
Miss Nancy Perkins, darkly.
Before night the report had spread
all over Brimblecom that the minis
ter had asked Pamela Semple TO keep
house for him. Mr. Stockbridge was
certainly the last person to be sus-
pected ofan improperly, but appear
ances were deceitful. He surely must
know that he ought TO have a house
keeper who was at least fifty, and it
was eminently proper that she should
be toothless, crosseyed, and disiig-
ured by the smallpox, as Joanna
Leach was. If Pamala were an spec
tally capable person the would be
somewhat different, hut TO be willing
10 benr with housekeeper who had
, no faculty he must have a personal
regard for her.
The oldest inhabitants could not
remember such an excitement in
, Brimblecom. The Rev Mr.. Caldwell'e
! heresy had t,een tame, and the re
, port that DR.. Saunders had another
wife living or'y mildly celebrating
. In comparison.
] But several weeks went by befor,
any sound Of il reached the minis
. tnr's ears. Happily for him Brim
blecom had n wholesome fear of tn,
, minister. But at length, owing
! mainly TO the efforts of Mis- Hosea
, Blodgett and Miss Nancy Perkins
, il was decided at the next churcl
! meeting one OF the church dea
/ cons should question the minis
4 ter concerning the matter. Such {
r crying scandal must no longer re
2 main uninvestigated.
! IL was n great dny for Brimbleco I'm
4 There had not been such an attend
/. ance Mt a church meeting since tn
J. Rev. Mr.. Caldwell's trial for here
!. sy. Mrs. Deacon Simmons said j
Q seemed so much like count,
1 conference that she got up at
4 o'clock and went TO baking a grea
:. batch OF pumpkins pies before sh
h remembered what she was about.
p II the minister had any idea c
I what il all meant, he gave no sign
= and when Deacon Simmons, wit
i awful solemnity, and with n lon
{ preamble concerning the duty of
q minister 10 set an example TO hi
y flock in righteousness, asked him
he thought il seemly and becomin
r TO ask the daughter of their lat
}, Deacon Ephraim Semple to becom
" his housekesper, the minister quietl
n replied TINT he had never done so.
o The committee looked at eac
O other. and everybody else looked n
& them. Miss Nancy Perkins felt, a
n she afterward expressed it as if sh
n would like TO go through to Chiny;
It but Miss Ichabod bore up nobll
and Mis- Hosea Blodgett relied upo
|. Mis- Ichabod.
IS sistin' OF Mis- Ichabod Badger, Mi
" Hosea Blodmett, and Miss Name
J. Perkins that you had done so?" pu
10 sued Deacon Simmons,
j. II did not" said the minister, wit
ID an mir of bland and innocent su
W prise.
y This wns too much for Mis- Ich,
IS bod. She arose, and shaking h,
forehnger impressively ut the mini
c. ter demanded:
20 Didn't you tell us that you hn
rs offered her a situation to keep hous,
in And who in this Twin world could
80 be that wanted housekeeper b,
IL your"
K. you misunderstood" me said q
o. minister with great politeness.
said had offered Miss Semple p
~ sition. md IL was not to tea,