Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-09

DevOnu all question, stfdilnS hoao ion mo
own stores.
The revelation was astounding. In her
establishment she incautiously loosed her
hold on the gate-post, took step forward
and her feet slipped on the treacherous
ground She sat down violently, and in an
instant she was speeding rapidly down the hill
toward her original point of investigation.
For once the path Of duty was smooth be-
fore 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 hall.
Thieves, gamblers, or whoever they were,
she must not be discovered by them, flashed
through Mrs. Wilkins mind-more an in
stinct of self-preservation than thought
and springing TO her feet she slipped behind
some boxes piled near her. The noise at
tracted attention, and in amoment the store
room was opened, and boy looked out.
"Guess it's only the door blew open; don't
catch good" he reported
clock 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 CLEAN Of light shone
into the hall, and there were sounds from
the room beyond-a scratching OF pens and
a womans voice; it sounded wonderfully
like that of the little knitting woman di.
recting and encouraging.
DWELL 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, believeth all things,
hopeth all things"
1t was easily understood. Mrs. Wilkin
leaned forward a little, and could peep into
the room. Fifteen or twenty boys and girls
from the mill gathered into night school
Then those wonderful words, read so slowly
and emphatically, seemed suddenly to as
sumo new and deeper meaning than Mrs.
Wilkin had ever thought of their possessing.
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 listener
outside that some one was keeping "sharp
watch" on those mill people, after all, and
that this might be a better way OF doing it
than might be practiced by any police force.
1t was very informal school. One girl had
brought her best dress that the teacher
might show her how to mend rent in it,
and another was trying to knit 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, de-
spite her uncomfortable situation.
The position was unpleasant. She did
not like playing eaves-dropper to this limo
cent gathering, but there seemed no help
for it. She could not escape through the
locked door; and boldly revealing herself,
and explaining her absurd suspicious, and the
remarkable way in which she had come there
was more than even her thought could en-
dure. So she kept her place, hoping that
when the pupils were dismissed she might
slip out among them unnoticed. But when
the lesson hour was over they departed
slowly, by twos and threes, the open door
hinging flood of light out into the hall.
At last only one fingered, and Mrs. Wilkin
listened intently as she caught his voice.
Snow, Tim" said the little knitting
woman, al like to have you come you know
that, and I'll help you all can, but you must
tell your aunt about it,
"Wel you see, don't know what she'll
say" began Tim, irresolutely
"But that shouldn't hinder you from do
ing your duty"
"Don't know about that" said Tim, still
doubtful. "You see Aunt Liz 'beths got an
awful mount of duty of her own, and its
such particular 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"
"Well, if you don't know what is right for
you, know what is right for me" said the
little teacher with quiet laugh "and l
can't let you come again until you tell your
aunt how you spend your evenings"
Mrs. Wilkin nodded vigorous approval,
but it was evident that Tim departed in a
state of dissatisfaction.
There was sound of crutch tapping on
the floor, and Mrs. Wilkin remembered 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 fire and putting up books.
"Only ten cents a week for each one
that's so little" said the boyish tones.
"Yes, but it isn't so very much that can
teach them" answered the little woman
humbly. "And then it's all they can afford
to pay, poor things And you know we be-
gan more for their sake than our own,
though we do need money. Courage, though,
Johnny 1t all counts, and you shall have
your overcoat pretty soon now. Besides,
= a. hot hot
we give as well as what we get"
If she could only pass that open door.
Mrs. Wilkin was growing benumbed by
lights were extinguished and the two came
out. Just then, fortunately, Johnny remem-
bered that they had left book behind them,
and as they turned back the prisoner seized
her opportunity and escaped.
She was sitting by the fire when Tim,
who had made his homeward route sufi
GENTLY circuitous to include a call on his
mother, returned. He sat down near her
twisted his fingers uneasily, and Mrs. VIII.
kin guessed what was coming.
| "There's been an evenin' school here
Aunt 'Lizbeth."
$50 l understand" responded Mrs. Viii
kin, coolly.
"Why, l thought" began Tim, witt
wide-open eyes, and then checked himself
with sudden recollection that it might mo-
be well to recall the conversation OF thu
morning. "Td like to go to it-that is,
have been once or twice." he said. "Fact is
Aunt 'Lizbeth, when we lived down the river
before you took me, there wasn't any schoo
for me to go to, and so I'm behind other fel
lers. Miss Kelsey she makes 'rithmetic 81
plain, and helps me with writin', and So
"You might do worse" said Mrs. Wilkin
briefly. "Go, ii you want to. Only one thing
Timothy Stone, won't have any ten cen
business about it. Honest is honest, and it
worth more'n ten cents week to teach yo
anything, as | know
Tim forgot to be astonished at his aunt
knowledge, and overlooked the refectio
upon himself, in the pleasure oil expressin
: desire that he had cherished secretly bu
hopelessly.
"She wouldn't take any more pay 'caus
she'd want to serve all alike; but oh, AuI
'Lizbeth, ii could just give her and Johnn
something nice for Christmas"
. a. unroab Ill think about -