Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-02-05

know that, and I'll help you all I can
but you must tell your aunt about it."
"Well, you see, I don't know what
she'll say" began Tim, nresolutely.
"But that shouldn't hinder you from
doing your duty"
"Don't know about that said Tim
still doubtful. "You see Aunt Liz
beth's got an awful mount of duty O
her own, and it's such partic lar kint
that other folks can't get much chance K
do theirs only when hers is a nappin'
Why, Uncle Reub gives my mother lot,
of meat, but he just slips it off and dom
tell"
"Well, if you don't know what il
right for you, know what is right fo
me" said the little teacher with quie
laugh; "and I can't let you come agai1
until you tell your aunt how you spent
| our evenings"
i Mrs. Wilkin nodded vigorous ap
proval, but it was evident that Tim de
parted in state of dissatisfaction.
There was sound of crutch tappin,
on the floor, and Mrs. Wilkin remem
bered that little lame brother hat
sometimes gone about with the knitting
woman. They two were left alone in tht
room, and went around shaking out tht
fire and putting up books and papers.
"Only ten cents week for each one
that's SO little, said the boyish tones
musingly.
eyes, but it isn't SO very much that
can teach them," answered the little
woman humbly. Sand then it's all they
can afford to pay, poor things! And you
know we began more for their sakes than
our own, though we do not need money,
Courage, though, johnny! It all counts,
and you shall have your overcoat pretty
soon now. Besides, this is work that
blesses both ways-in what we give as
well as what we get.''
II she could only pass that open door.
Mrs. Wilkin was growing benumbed by
standing SO long in the cold. Finally
the lights were extinguished, aud the two
came out. Just then, fortunately, John
ny remembered that they had left book
behind them, and as they turned back
the prisoner seized her opportunity and
escaped.
She was sitting alone by the fire when
Tim, who had made his homeward route
sufficiently circuitous to include call on
his mother, returned. He sat down
near her, twisted his fingers uneasily,
and Mrs. Wilkin guessed what was
coming.
"There's been m evenin' school here,
Aunt 'Liz'be
WIS: "so I understand" responded Mrs.
"Why, I thought" began Tim, with
wide open eyes, and then checked him
self with sudden reflection that it might
not be we'll to recall the conversation of
the morning. "I'd like to go to it
that is, have been once or twice." he
said. "Fact is, Aunt Liz beth, when
we lived down the river, before you took
me, there wasn't any school for me to 80
to, and so I'm behind other fellers. Miss
Kelsey she makes 'rithmetic so plain,
and helps me with writin', and So
"You mi ght do worse" said Mrs.
Willin briefly. eco if you want to.
Only one thing, Timothy Stone, I won't
have any 10 cent business about it.
Honest is honest and it's worth more'n
10 cents week to teach you anything,
as I know
Tim forgot to be astonished at his
aunt's knowledge and overlooked the re-
Election upon himself, in the pleasure of
desire that he had cherished
secretly but hopelessly.
"She wouldn't take any more pay
cause she'd want to serve all alike; but
oh, Aunt Liz beth, if T could Just give
her and Johnny something nice for
Christmas"
"Hump, I'll think about it." an
swered Mrs. Wilkin, not disapprovingly.
"'Liz BETH" began Mr.. Wilkin ner-
vously, the next morning, 81 wouldn't
say nothin' to anybody about thieves or
them mill folks, if I was you."
ct don't mean to-" replied his wife,
with an odd quicker about her lips.
"Wel, I'm glad of it, really am,"
said Mr.. Wilkin, in tone Of great re-
Lief. II don't think anybody has stole
and somehow it seems to me
as if our duty nowadays is good deal
like it was when them Israelites took
Jericho-only just marching against the
bit of wall that's right in front of us,
and lettin' our neighbors take care of
what's in front of him. It sort of seems
that way, Liz beth"
Mrs. Wilkin did not answer, but she
took her revenge that evening, when Mr..
Wilkin was going out.
"Reuben," she said, quietly, eff you
see any thieves around our smoke-house,
Just tell 'em there's q couple of chickens
hanging near the door, that I dressed a
purpose. It's natural Belinda'd like
change of meat as well as other folks"