Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-03-19

He was the son of her neice; and Belinda
had married in opposition TO her annts
advice. Mrs. Wilkin protested and then
washed her hands of the whole matter
But when the poor man was so inconsid-
crate as to die and leave Belinda with II
half dozen children just when she needed
| his help, Mrs. Wilkins opinion of his
general Slackness was verified. The family
was poor, of course. She didn't believe
in sending in many things s-self depend
ence was Il duty but she offered to take
| lin.
Having the boy to raise makes me more
careful about the morals of the whole
place, she said, returning to her original
subject; and as for there being thieves
round here. I've thought for some time
that the meat went pretty fast from our
smoke honse.
Don n't-now, 'Liz'beth. I'm sure no
I ou,'s stole any, said Mr.. Wilkin, with Il
startled. uneasy look. You-you couldn't
have counted the hams and everything.
No, don't count, but | can miss 'cm
for all that, affirmed Mrs. Wilkin decided
ly, know there's more go than we use
Anyway. it's no difference. wouldn't,
Liz beth there's plenty, yon see, more
than we want, advised Mr.. Wilkin urgent
| ly, but rather incoherently. Then he
caught up his hat and started for the
barn.
Mrs. Wilku looked after him with pity
ing disapproval.
When you've more than you want your,
self, leave it handy for somebody to steal !!
Well, that's Il new commandment, | do
declare!
Not so very new. neither, Aunt Liz beth,
inlerposed Tim, stoutly. Cause the Bible
folks was told to be sure and leave some
of their harvest so the poor could come
and get it. | read it myself; only it
wash called stealing then, and was to be
handler than all slowed away in smoke
houses.
Timothy began Mrs Wilkin But Tim
suddenly remembered that The chickens
were waiting for their breakfast and chose
to interpret the exclamation rs an admo-
milton in that direction.
Yes m, Pm goin' to feed 'em right away,
he observed, seizing basket of corn. and
darling through the door by which his
uncle had departed.
! In truth it was not altogether easy to
mold Tim into the desired shape; there
was too much individuality about him.
Enca>ing him in Mrs wilkins code of
manners was putting too large boy into
too small II jacket; he was always burst
ing out ut the elbows or tearing of the
buttons Mrs. Wilkin sighed ut this new
evidence Of the number of things in the
world that needed her attentions but En-.
gland never expected every man to do his
duty more strongly than Mrs. Wilkin ex.
pec'ed 10 do hers
That evening the mysterious lights APP
peared again in the storei oom of the mill.
She could plainly see them, for just be
yond her own back gate was an open field
sloping directly and stceply down to the
building The road afforded II public and
more crcuitous mode of reaching it. but
from the hilltop the suspicious storeroom
was directly in range. Mrs. Wikin de
termina to take more thorough obsar
walton than the kitchen window allowed
and, throwing II shawl over her head, she
picked her way carefully down the icy
steps, and crossed the yard to the gate
The snowy field lay white and glistening
in the moonlight, and standing in the
sheltcring shadow of post, she watched
the door below.
But before she discovered any one en-
Lering there she heard sounds in another
dircction-steps in the ward behind her
What if she should prove beyond all donbr
that her meat was stolen and detect the
thiefP With that quick thought she turn.
ed her head cautiously. Yes, some ont
tried the smoke-house door and entered
Breathlessly Mrs. Wilkin waited until the
figure reappeared, passed along in the
shade of the house and then as it emerged
into the clear moonlight, she leaned eager.
ly forward to catch full sight of it. Ii
was easily recognized Mr.. Wilkin, be
yond all question, stealing meat from hi,
own stores!
The revelation was astounding In he,
astonishment Mrs. Wilkin incautiousy
looscned her hold on the g;te post. took {,
step forward and her feet slipped upor
the treacherous ground. She sat dowr
violently, and in an instant was speeding
: rapidly down the hill toward her orgina
point of investigation. For once the patti
of duty was smooth before her-entirely
too smooth and icy. She could not check
or guide her progress; her feet struck
} with force against the mysterious door
pushed it open, and she slid into It hall.
Thieves. gamblers, or whoever they wer,
, she must not be discovered by them llashet
through Mrs Wilkn' mind-more IN in
slinct of preservation than though
and springing to her feet. she Slipped
) behind some boxes piled near her. Th,
, noise attracted attention, and in q momen
=, the storeroom door was opened and boz
looked out.
; Guess it's only the door blew open
j don't catch good, he reported.
Lock it then, james. and bring in tn,
! key, said voice from within; and to Mrs
Wilkins CONSERVATION the order WA
i obeyed, and she was II prisoner.
The boy left the other door slightly ala
i as he rc.cntered. A geam of light shon
into the hall. and there were sounds from
n the room byond I'll scratching of pens
q and II woman's voice; it sounded wonder
fully like that of the little knitting woman
4 directing and encouraging.
* Well done, Susan.
=, Now don't be disheartened, Will. q
d course while you work in the mill, an
If can only study at night, you cant Ct
, along Just rs some do who can go
If school all day but what you learn may b
h of more use to you. We care most for tn
a things that cost us trouble.
V There we're n few simple mathematics
n problems, and then reading, and tn
!; words, spelled out with difficulty by som,
Y were Bible words.
il Charity suffereth long and is kind
Is Vaunteth not itself Seekeh her owr
Thinketh no evil. Beareth all things, bC
: levlth all things, hopelh all things.
1t was easily understood. Mrs. Wiki
/, leaned forward n little, and could pee
is into the room, Fifteen or twenty boys an
e girls from the mill gathered into n nigt
Il school. Then those wonderful words rea
1t so slowly and emphaticaly, seemed sue
y denly to assume new and deeper meal
g ing than Mrs. Wilkin had ever thought {
m their possessing-some things do show S
70 much more clearly in tho dark than in tn
it light.
1t AS the timid little woman, who woul
e have been frightened ut her own voice !
any other audience us large, explained
le her simple, gentle way the passage rent
/. occurred to the listener outside th;
y some one was keeping sharp watch o
g these mill people, after all, and that tn
II miuht ha a hattar xyav Of dOino il tha