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


She always tried to do it, she said, but
like the kitchen work of poor housekeepers
it was never done up. Tim insisted that
there was more than belonged to one family.
Aunt 'Lizabeth took in a good deal for
other folks . and once he slyly chalked a
sign upon the front door "Duty Done
Here" But then Tim had arrived at that
peculiar age when boy had no rights and
is needed to run of errands, and it is prob
able that duty-his aunt's, not his own-in-
terfered with his comfort even more than
that of older people
In truth, Mrs. Wilkins duty was not a
convenient article to have about the house.
1t was bustling aggressive affair, always
springing up unexpectedly, like one OF the
dogs SO unaccountably petted in some house
holds for their sole virtue OF being always
in the way. Moving forward, one runs
against the creature and it grows; moving
backward, one steps upon its tail and 1t
snarls. 1t lies upon the back piazza to be
carefully stepped over in the daytime and
disastrousy stumbled over at night.
Mrs. Wilkin kept no dog, but her duty
shifted an opportunity and bounced out of
its hiding place, when there came timid
little knock at the diningroom in the
early morning, and its answering revealed
small, quiet-faced, brown-robed fgure-face
and dress both past the freshness OF their
youth-carrying basket.
"Good morning, Mrs. Wikin."
"Come in ?" questioned Mrs Wilkin, with
only half an invitation in her voice.
The little brown woman stepped in, GER
tainly, and poised herself on the outer edge
of chair nearest the door.
al called to see il you didn't want to buy
some knitted articles, or to engage work OF
that sort" she began in deprecating voice.
DWELL, don't" interposed Mrs. Wilkin,
positively. al do all such work myself"
al didn't know. Many ladies haven't
time, and am glad to do it,
{" / 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 slight gesture like emp
tying her hands Of responsibility. off |
was going to give out work at all it would
be some hard Jobs that would be help to
be rid Of not the pick and choice, little,
easy things that / call rest and not work
but then, ] amt so particular as some, and
so do all kinds myself"
A faint flush crossed the visitors thin face.
She was not quite sure that she had been
called indolent and advised to go to work
and earn an honest living; the words only
had an uncomfortable sound; so the lips
kept their timid, gentle smile, though they
trembled little She held first one hand in
its thin cotton glove, and then the other to
the fire moved uneasily, glanced down at
her feet with dim thought that if they had
always chosen the smoothest path it had
been rough enough to wear out her shoes
much faster than she could replace them
and then she arose to go.
"Wasn't you rather hard on her, Liza
beth ?" asked Mr.. Wilkin, with a regretful
glance toward the door as it closed
Mrs. Wilkin returned to her seat at the
breakfast-table and surveyed him over the
coffee-pot.
Hard on her ? l only 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
morning az sweet as ever. She's one of the
weak kind that can't be stirred up, and have
not spunk enough to say their souls are their
own. | wonder what such folks are good
for? They'll never make the world any bet
ter, that's sure. They haven't courage enough
to help put down any evil if it was right I'M
der their noses they'd only stand and smile.
The very sight OF 'em provokes me-"
"But then everybody amt alike, Liz
abeth," interposed Mr. Wilkin.
"Needn't tell me that its plain enough"
snapped Mrs. Wilkin. "Just look at this
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS orderly place two
years ago; and now there's new mill
started and all sorts OF vagabonds brought
here to work in it. ii I'd had my way they
wouldn't have come and now they are here
somebody ought to keep very sharp watch
On '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 care OF the good of
society"
81 don't see as the mill folks have done
any mischief yet, 'Liz'beth."
"Of course you don't see, and nobody else
sees but | know there's something going
on when the lower part of the mill-that
old empty store-room back there, it can't be
seen from the streets lighted up two or
three nights week." she said, triumphantly.
"I've watched the twinkling through the
shutters, tight as they're 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 a
gang of thieves or counterfeters starting
for all we know"
A suppressed giggle made Tim suddenly
cough and put down his coffee-cup.
"Timothy," exclaimed his aunt severely,
off you don't drink coffee without dom it
SO fast that you choke yourself, youth have
to go without it. I'll do my best to bring
you up right, whatever comes of it."
Bringing up Tim in the way he should
60 was one of Mrs. Wilkins strong points.
He was the son of her niece and Belinda
had married in opposition to her aunt's ad-
vice. Mrs Wilkin protested and then washed
her hands of the whole matter.
But when the poor man was so inconsid-
crate as to die and leave Belinda with half
a-dozen children just when she needed his
help, Mrs. Wilkins opinion of his general
"slackness was verified. The family were
poor, of course. She didn't believe in send
ing in many things-self-dependence was a
duty-but she offered to take Tim.
"IIaving the boy to raise makes me more
careful about the morals of the whole place"
she said, returning to her original subject,
"and as for there being no thieves round
here, I've thought for some time that meat
went pretty fast from our smoke-house."
"Don't-now, 'Lizbeth, lin sure no
ones stole any," said Mr.. Wilkin with a
startled uneasy look. "You couldn't have
counted the hams and everything"
"No, don't count, but / can miss em for
all that" affirmed Mrs. Wilkin, decidedly
al know there's more go than we use."
"Anyway, it's no difference, wouldn't
'beth-there's plenty, you see, more than
we want" advised Mr.. Wilkin, urgently, but
IhuucI iuCoucieutiy' lueu Ho CduBul up ulf
hat and started for the barn.
"When you've more than you want your
self, leave it handy for somebody to steal
Well, that's new commandment, do de
clare" she said.
"Not 80 dreadful new, either, Aunt Liz
BETH" interposed Tim, stoutly; "cause tn,
Bible folks was told to leave some of thei
harvest SO the poor could come and get it
read it myself only it wasn't called steal
ing then, and was to be left handler than al
slowed away in smoke-houses"
Timothy" began Mrs. Wilkin. Blu
Tim suddenly remembered that the chicken
were waiting for breakfast, and chose to in
terpret the exclamation as an admonition il
that direction.
"Yes'm, I'm goin' to feed 'em right away,
he Observed seizing basket of corn, an
darting through the door by which his uncl
had departed.
In truth, it was not altogether easy
mould Tim to the desired shape there wa
too much individuality about him. Enca
ing him in Mrs. wilkins code OF manner
was putting too large boy into too small
jacket; he was always bursting out at til
elbows, or tearing off the buttons. Mr.
Wilkin sighed at this new evidence OF til
number of things in the world that needle