The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-09-21


md everything
No, | don't count. hut can miss ON
for al that" affirmed Mrs Wilkin, dc.
ci,lclly. u know there's more than VIZ
use, or TINT die
anyhow, IL. no difference. I
wouldn't, I.izbcth = there's plenty,
you zee: more than W. want, MI
siscd Mr.. Wilkin, urgently. but rather
incolrrently. Then HI caught up his
Int and dartcd for the barn.
Mrs. Wilkin looked utter him with
plying disappro,al.
"When yon have more than Won want
yourself leave it handy for somebody
to steal! Well. that's new command.
mcnt. TO declare!" she said.
Not ~ dreadful new, neither. Aunt
Iizbptll." interposed Tim, stontly.
"'Causr the Bible folks were always
told to he sure and leave some OF their
harvest 80 the poor could come and
get il. read it myself, only II wasn't
called stealing then, and was to DO
left handler than all shut up in hem
houses
"'rimothy!' began Mrs. Wilkin. But
Tim sndlenly remembered TINT tho
chickens were waiting for their break
fast. and chose to interpret the cNcla-
nation M nm n,lmonitiun in thut dircc-
ton.
"Yes'm. Tin going to feed en- right
away" liz observed. scizing basket Of
corn and ,larting through the door by
which his uncle had departed.
In truth. il WIS not altogether easy to
mold Tim into the desired shape: there
was too much individuality about him.
Incasing him in Mrs. wilkins code Of
manners Mas putting too large hoy
into too small jacket: he was always
bursting ont at the elbows or tearing
of the buttons. Mrs. Milkin sighed ut
this new evidence Of the new number Of
things in the world That needed atten-
ton: but England never expected every
man to 10 his duty more strongly than
Mrs. Wilkin expected to here.
That evening the mysterious lights
appeared again IN the storc.room Of the
mill. She could plainly see them. for
just beyond her own back gate an open
field sloped directly aud stccply down
to the building The road afforded Il
public and more circuitous mode of
reaching it, Int from the hilltop the
suspicious store room was directly i'll
range. Mrs. Wilkin determined to take
n more thorough observation than the
kitchen window allowed, and. throwing
a shawl over her head. she picked her
way carefully down the icy steps and
t,.tx - "a i.A
lay white and glistening in the moon.
light. and. standing in the shcltering
shadow Of \ post. she watched the door
below.
But before she discovered any one en-
tering there she heard sounds in am
other direction steps in the yard he
hind her. What il she should prove he
yond all doubt that her fowls were
stolen and le,ec, the thief? With that
quick thought she turned her head
cautiously. Yes. some one tried the
hennery door and entered. Brcashlessly
Mrs. Wilkin waited until the figure re.
appeared and passed along in tho shade
Of the house. and then. rs il emerged
into the clear moonlight, she leaned
eagerly forward to catch full sight Of
it. II was easily recognized MIR.
Nilkin. beyond all question, stealing
from his own hcnnery.
The revelation was astounding In
her establishment Mrs, Wilkin incaa-
tiausls ieoscned her hold on the gate
post. took a step forward. and her feet
slipped upon the treachcrous ground,
She sat down violently. and in an instant
vas speeding rapidly down the hill to-
warl her original point If Investigation.
Fer once the path If duty was smooth
before her--cntirely too smooth and
icy. She could no, check or guide her
progress. her feet struck with force
against the mysterious door. pushed it
open and she slid into hall.
Thieves. gamblers, ar whatever they
We're. she must not he discovered hv
them, flashed through Mrs. wilkins
mind -more an instinct If sclf-preser-
Walton than thought AMI, springing
to her feet. she slipped behind some
boxes piled near her. III. noise as-
srac,el attention. aul in moment the
store,raom door was opened and boy
looked out,
"I;ness its only the door blew open
don't catch good he reterted,
Look II then. James. and bring III the
key" said voi,c from within; and to
Mrs. Wilkins CONSERVATION the order
was oheved and she was prisoner.
The hoy left the outer door slightly
aiar A. he re-cntered. \ CLEAN Of light
shone into the hall. and there We're
sounds from the Room he,onl. a scratch
ing az pens and Woman's voice: IL
sounded wonderfully like that Of the
little knitting woman, directing and en-
coaragiag,
We'll done, Susan"
Now, don't he ,lisheartened. Viii, Oi
course, While vou work IN the mill. and
Gun study only at night, you can't -,
along Just a> some do who can 70 to school
all day: hut what You learn may he Of
more use to yon We care most for the
things that cost rs trouble"
There We're few simple mathematical
problems. and then reading. and the
verbs spelled ont With difficulty by some
Ner. Bible words.
Charity su'i.re,h long and is kinds"
istt StthN1H iahI
own. h,lleveth all things, horeth all
things"
II was easily understood. Mrs, VIII
kin leaned forward little. and could
peep into the Room Fifteen or twenty
aass and girls from the mill gathered
into night school Then those won
leriul words, read 80 slowly AMI en-
paatlcalss, seemed Ia s,,lltnlr assume "A
neN aud deeper meaning than Mrs. Vii
Kin had ever thought Of their possessing
some things show 50 much more clear
" in the dark than in the light.
Is the simid little woman --Mhe would
lave !eea frightened N her own voice
III any other audience n large Explained
III her simple. gentle way tie pas.
stgc read. ii occurred tn the listener
outside that some one was keeping IA
sharp watch ON these mill people. after
Ill, and that this nigh, IL better way
81 doing it than would In praesired hv
any police force II was VERY informal
school. One girl had hrough, her best
dress that the teacher might show her
how To mend rent in it. and another
was trying Ia knit pair of mittens for