St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-01-31
From Sunday Afternoon, for January.
Mrs. Wilkins DUTY

Mrs. Wilkins Duty.
She "always tried to do it," she said.
but like the kitchen work of poor house,
Keepers, it was never done up. Tim in
sisted that there was more than belong
ed to one family "Aunt 'Liz'beth took |
IN good deal for other folks :" and
once ne slyly chalked sign upon the
front door, "Duty Done Here" But
then Tim had arrived at that peculiar
age when a boy has no rights and is
needed to run of errands, and it is prob
able that duty-his aunt's, not his own
-lnterfered with his comfort even more
than that of older people.
In truth, Mrs. Wilkins duty was not
convenient article to have about the
house. 1t was brstling, aggressive
affair, always springing up unexpected
ly, ike one of the dogs so unaccoupta-
bly, 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, -ns3 steps upon its tail and it
snaIls. lit 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 member of the family going out.
Mrs. Wilkin kept no dog, but her duty
shifted an opportunity and pounced out
of its hiding lace, when there came
timid knock at the dining-roOm door in
the early morning, and its answering
revealed Il small, quiet-faced, brown
robed figuTe-face and dress both past
the freshness of their youth-carrying II
basket.
"GOOd morning, Mrs. Wilkin."
"Come in 7" questioned Mrs. Wilkin,
with only half an invitation in her
voice.
The acceptance was half one, like
wise. The little brown woman stepped
in certainly, and poised herself OH the
outer edge of a chair nearest the door.
~ called to see if you didn't want to
buy some knitted articles, OF to engage
some work of that SORT" she began in a
, gentle, hesitatiug voice.
"Well, DON'T interposed Mrs. Will
kin very positively. 81 do all such work
myself"
81 didn't know. Many ladies haven't
time, and Pm glad to do it.'
81 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 Il
slight gesture like emptying her hands
of responsibility. "lf | was goin' to give
out work ut all it would be some hard
, jobs that it would be Il help to be rid of,
not the pick and choice little easy things
that | call rest and not work but then,
| amt so particular us some, and SO |
do all kinds my SELF
a faint flush crossed the visitors thin
face. She was quite sure that she had
been called indoIeut and advised to 90
to work and earn an honest living; the
words only had an uncomfortable
sound so her lips kept their timid, gen
: tie smile, though they tremoled little.
She held first one hand in its thin cotton
glove, and then the other, to the fire !;
moved uneasily, glanced down mt her
feet with a dim thought that if they
had always chosen the smoothest path,
1t had yet been rough enough to wear
out her shoes much faster than she could
replace them and then she arose to 90.
Wasn't you rather hard on her, LIZ
beth ?" asked Mr.. Wilkin, with a regret
full glance toward the door as it closed
Mrs. Wilkin returned to her seat at
the breakfast table and surveyed him
|
| lizard on herP | told her what do.
and if that pricks her conscience and
makes her uncomfortable, it's not my
fault. But you needn't worry she Just
said, Good mOrnin',' as sweet as ever
She's one of the weak kind that can't be
, stirred up, and haven't spunk enough
to say their souls are their own. | Won
der what such folks are good for; they
| wi alA hn n,l1 hot
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 sight of one
of 'em provokes me ! | consider it nv
, duty to speak out when see things go
ing wrong"
''But then everybody amt alike,
'Liz'beth," interposed Mr.. Wilkin.
"Needn't tell me that It's plain
enough" snapped Mrs. Wilkin. s'Just
look at this neighborhood-
orderly place two years ago; and now
there's mill started and all sorts of
vagabonds brought here to work in it,
If I'd had my way they wouldn't have
!, come and now they're here somebody
ought to keep sharp watch Oh 'em.
But that's the trouble there's so many
mild, easy folks that want to sit still an
do the knittin' work of life that there's
precious few left to take any care of the
good of society"
II don't see as the mill folks have
done any mischief yet, 'Lizbeth."
"Of course you don't see, and nobody
else sees but know there's something
goin' on, when the lower part of the
mill-that old empty stOre-rOom back
where it can't be seen from the street
is lighted up two or three nights every
week." said Mrs. Wilkin triumphantly.
GIVE watched the twinkle through
the shutters, tight as they'er shut, and
seen folks slippin' in through the door,
too. It's time it was looked after, and
I'll do my duty, if nobody else does.
There may be gang of thieves or
cOunterfeiters starting for all we know"
suppressed giggle made Tim sud-
denly cough and put down his coffee
cup.
'TimOthyw exclaimed his aunt Sc
verely. ''If you can't drink coffee with
out doin' it so fast that you choke your
self, you'll have to go without it. III do
my best to bring you up right, what
ever comes of it.n
Bringing up Tim in the way he should
go was one of Mrs. Wilkins strong
points. He was the son of her niece
and Belinda had married in opposition
to her aunt's advice. Mrs. Wilkin pro-
tested and then washed her hands of
the whole matter. But when the poor
man was so incOnsiderate as to die and
leave Belinda with half dozen children
just when she needed his help, Mrs.