Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1880-02-11

lncw H., md IN hslp you II / ON,
but you must M your aunt about Il"
Wei, you - ! don't know Whist
Ghen ~" beam Tim, irreoolut0ly.
But that ahouldn't hinder you from
doing your duty"
"Don't know about that" said Tim,
stl doubtful. "You see Aunt Liz.
beth's got IN awful mount OF duty Of
her own, and itas such Z partic,lar kind
that other folks can't get much chance 10
do MAirs only when her's Is . nappin,.
Why, Uncle Reub gives my mother lots
Of meat, but he just slips il off and don't
tall"
"Well, IL you don't know what is
right for you, ! know what is right for
me-" raid the little teacher with q quiet
laugh; "and I can't let you come again
until you tell your aunt how you spend
nj evenings."
Mrs. Wilkin nodded . vigorous ap-
prOval, but it was evident that Tim de-
parted IN Q state Of dissatisfaction.
There was q sound of q crutch tapping
on the floor, and Mrs.. Wilkin remem-
bered that . little lame brother had
sometimes gone about with the Knitting
woman. They two were left alone in the
room, and went around shaking out the
fre and putting up books and papers.
"Only ten cents q week for each one
-that's 90 little, said the boyish tones,
musingly.
"Yes, but II isn't 90 very much that
Nnn Tech %hn~n ~ >u~-.~J a.. a:AAl
woman humbly. "And then it's all they
can af1ord to pay, poor things! And you
know We began more for their sakes than
u own, though We do not need money.
Courage, though, Johnny! It all counts,
and You shall have your overcoet pretty
soon now. Besides, this il work that
blesses both ways-in what We give q
well u what we get"
II she could only pass that open door.
Mrs. Wilkin was growing benumbed BY
standing 10 long In the cold. Finally
the lights were extinguished, and the two
came ont. just then, fortunately. John.
~, remembered that they had left a 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 a call on
his mother, returned. He sat down
her, twisted his fingers uneasily.
and Mrs. Wilkin guessed what was
coming.
"There's been nm evenin' school here.
Aunt Iix'beth."
$50 l understand" responded Mrs.
Wilkin, coolly.
Why, / thought" began Tim, with
wide open eyes, and then checked him
self with . sudden reflection that it might
not be well to recall the conversation Of
the morning. "Id like to 20 to it
that il, / have been once or twice." he
said. Fact ia, Aunt 'Liz'beth, when
we lived down the river, before you took
me, there wasn't any school for me to no
to, and 20 I'm behind other fellers, Miss
Kelsey she makes 'rithmetic 90 plain.
and helps me with writin', and so
"Y0u might do worse" said Mrs.
Wilkin briefly. eco If YOU want to.
Only one thing, Timothy stone, / won't
have any 10 cent business about it.
Honest 10 honest and tits worth more'n
10 cents q week TO teach you anything,
a. / know"
Tim forgot to be astonished at his
knowledge and overlooked the re-
Fiction upon himself, in the pleasure of
expressing q desire that he had cherished
secretly but hopelessly.
"She wouldn't take any more pay
cause she'd want to serve all alike: but
Aunt Lix'beth, II / could Just give
her and johnny something nice for
Christmas"
Hump. I'll think about it," an
swered Mrs. Wilkin, not disapprovingly.
"Lix'beth," began Mr.. Wilkin ner-
vously, the next morning, ST wouldn't
say nothin' to anybody about thieves or
watchin' them mill folks, if 1 was you."
~ don't mean TO-" replied his wife,
with an odd quicker about her lips.
well, I'm glad Of i'll really am"
said Mr.. Wilkin, in o tone of great re-
LET. 81 don't think anybody has stole
anything, and somehow it seems to me
as If our duty nowadays 10 q good deal
like it was when them ~Isrnelites 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, 'Lix'beth."
Mr.. Wilkin did not answer, but she
took her revenge that evening, when Mr..
Wilkin was going out.
Reuben" she said, quietly, "if you
zee any thieves around our smoke-house,
just tell 'em there's a couple Of chickens
hanging near the door, that I dressed q
purpose. It's natural Belinda'd like a
change Of meat q well as other folks."