Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-03-16

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slipped behind some boxes piled near her.
The noise attracted attention, and in a
moment the store-room was opened, and
a boy looked out.
"Guess it's only the door blew open
don't catch good" he reported.
''Lock it then, James, and then bring
in the key" said voice from within
and to Mrs. Wilkins CONSERVATION the
order was obeyed, and she was prisoner.
The boy left the other door slightly
ajar as he re-entered. A gleam Of light
shone into the hall, and there were sounds
from the room beyond-a scratching of
pens, and womans voice; it sounded
wonderfully like that of the little knitting
woman. directing and encouraging.
"Well done, Susan"
"Now don't be disheartened, Will. OF
course while you work in the mill, and
can only study at night, you can't get
along just as some do who go to school
all day; but what YOU learn may be of
some use to you. We care most for
things that cost us trouble"
There were few simple mathematical
problems, and then reading, and the
words. spelled out with difficulty by some,
were Bible words.
Charity suffereth long and is kind. 1t
vaunteth not itself. Thinketh no evil.
Beareth all things, belicveth all things,
hopeth all things"
II was easily understood. Mrs. Wilkin
leaned forward little, and could peep
into the room. Fifteen or twenty boys
and girls from the mill gathered into a
night school, Then those wonderful
words read so slowly and emphatically,
seemed suddenly to assume new and
deeper meaning than Mrs. Wilkin had
ever thought Of their possessing. Some
things do show more clearly in the dark
than in the light.
As the timid little woman. who would
have been frightened at the sound of her
own voice in any other audience half so
large, explained in her simple, gentle way,
the passage read, it occurred to the lis
tener outside that some one was keeping
a "sharp watch on those mill people,
after all. and that this might be better
way Of doing it than might be practised
by any police force. 1t was a very in
formal school. One girl had brought her
best dress to mend a rent in it, and an
other was trying to knit a pair of mittens
for her brother. Every winter has its
thaws. Mrs. Wilkin had heart down
under all the crust Of opinions that she
christened duty; she became interested.
despite her uncomfortable situation.
The position wss unpleasant. She did
not like playing eaves-dropper to this in
pocen, gathering. but there seemed no
help for it. She could no, escape through
the locked door; and boldly revealing
herself, and explaining her absurd sus-
picions. and the remarkable way in which
she had come there was more than even
her thought could endure, So she kept
her place hoping that when the pupils
were dismissed she might slip out unno-
ticed. But when the lesson hour was
over they departed slowly. by twos and
threes, the open door fiinging food of
light out into the hall At last only one
fingered, and Mrs. Wilkin listened in
ten,ly as she caught his voice.
Now, Tim." said the little knitting
woman, II like to have you come, you
know that, and I'll help You all can,
but you must tell your aunt about it.
"Well, you see, don't know what
she'll say" began Tim, irresolutely.
"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 Of her own,
and it's such a partic'lar kind that other
folks can't get much chance to do theirs,
only when hers is nappin'. Why Uncle
Reub gives my mother lots Of meat, but
he just slips it off and don't tell"
swell, if you don't know what is right
for you, know what is right for me-"
said the little teacher with quiet laugh; ;
land can't let you come again until
you tell your aunt how you spend your
evenings"
Mrs. Wilkin nodded a vigorous ap-
proval, but it was evident that Tim de-
parted in a state Of dissatisfaction.
There was sound of a crutch tapping
on the floor, and Mrs. Wilkin remem-
bered that little lame brother had some
times gone about with the knitting-wo
man. They two were left alone in the
room, and went around shaking out the
fire and putting up books and papers.
...Only ten cents week for each one
that's so little," said the boyish tones,
musingly.
"Yes, but it isn't SO very much that |
can teach them," answered the little wo-
man humbly. "And then it's all they
can afford to pay, poor things! And you
know we began more for their sake than
for our own, though we do need the
money. Courage, though, Johnny 1t
all counts, and you shall have your over
coat pretty soon now. Besides, this is
work that blesses both ways-in what we
give as well as what we get"
If she could only pass that open door.
Mrs. Wilkin was growing benumbed BY
standing so long in the cold. Finally the
lights were extinguished and 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.