The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-02-13
MRS. WILKINS DUTY.

SHE always tr1eQ 10 90 IL, Sne
said, but like the kitchen work of poor
housekeepers. it was never done up.
Tim insisted that there was more than
belonged to one family; "Aunt Liz
beth took in q good deal for other
folks" and once he silly chalked sign
upon the front door, "Duty Done Here" :"
But then Tim had arrived at that pecu-
liar age when q boy has no rights and
is needed to run on errands, and it is
probably that duty-his aunt's, not his
own-intcrfered with his comfort even
more than that of older people.
In truth, Mrs. wilkins duty was not
3 convenient article to have about q
house. 1t was a bristling, aggressive
affair. always springing up Unexpectedly
like one Of the dogs so unaccountably
petted in some households for their sole
virtue of being always in the way.
Moving forward, one runs against the
creature and it growls; moving back
ward. one steps upon its tail and it
snarls- It lies on the back piazza TO be
carefully stepped over in the day time
and disastrously stumbled over at night;
and haunts the front steps to bark at
every visitor coming in, and howl after
every member of the family going out.
Mrs. WiIkin kept no dog, but her
duty shifted an opportunity and pounced
out of its hiding place, when there came
a timid little knock at the dining-room
door in the early morning, and its an
swering revealed small. quietfaced,
brown-robed fgure-face and dress both
past the freshness of their yeuth-car-
rying basket ~ . M
"Good morning, Mrs. Wilkin."
"Come IMP" questioned Mrs. Wilkin,
with only half an invitation in her
voice.
The acceptance was a half one like
wise. The little brown woman stepped
in. certainly, and poised herself ON the
outer edge of 2 chair nearest the door.
a. called to zee if you didn't want to
buy some knitted articles. or to engsge
some work of that SORT" she began in
gentle; deprecating voice.
,dls Wilkin; livery very positively. lido all such
"I didn't know. Many ladies
haven't time, and I'm glad to do it.''
II suppose so, but consider it my
duty to do all can myself and set other
folks the example, whether they follow
it or not" said Mrs. Wilkin, with q
slight gesture like emptying her hands
of responsibility. IF I was goin' to
give out work at all it would Be some
hard jobs that it would be a help to be
rid of, not the pick and choice little
easy things that I call rest and not
work; but then l amt as particular as
some, and so I do all kinds myself"
A faint flush CROSSED the visitor thin
face. She was not quite sure that she
had been called indolent and advised
to 60 to work and earn an honest liv-
ing; the words only had an uncom-
Portable sound; SO her lips kept their
timid. gentle smile, though they trem-
bled little. She held first one hand
in its thin cotton glove and then the
other, to the fire. moved uneasily,
glanced down at her feet with dim
thought that If they had always chosen
the smoothest path it had yet beer
rough enough to wear out her shoes
much faster than she could replace
them; and then she arose to go
"Wasn't you rather hard on her
z'bethP" asked Mr.. Wilkin, with q
regretful glance toward the door as i,
closed.
Mrs. Wilkin returned to her seat al
the breakfast table and surveyed him
over the shining tin coffee-pot.
Hard on herp / only told her wha,
do, and II that pricks her conscience
and makes her uncomfortable, it's no,
my fault. But you needn't worry; she
just said sGood mornin',' as sweet as
ever. She's one of the weak kind thai
can't be stirred up and haven't spunk
enough to say their souls their own.
wonder what such folks are good for
they'll never make the world any bet
ter, that's sure. They haven't courage
enough to help put down any evil if il
was right under their noses; they'd
only stand and smile. The very sigh,
Of one of 'em provokes me! I consider
1t my duty to speak out when l see
things going wrong"
"But then everybody amt alike,
Liz beth" interposed Mr.. Wilkin.
"Needn't telf me that, it's plain
enough" snapped Mrs. Wilkin. "Just
look at this neighborhood-peaoeable,
orderly place two years ago; and now
there's . mill started and all sorts OF
vagabonds brought here to work in it.
1t I'd had my way they wouldn't have