The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-09-29
MRS. WILKINS DUTY.

COOE In gOOO zeal IOf OJil6f fclhS;
and once he shyly chalked sign upon
the front door, "Duty Done Here" But
then Tin had arrived at a peculiar age
when boy had no rights and is needed
90 run on errands, and il is probable
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
hou e.. 1t was bristling, aggressive
affair, always springing up unexpected
ly, like one Of the dogs SO unacconnta-
bly, petted in some households for their
sole virtue Of being always in the way.
Moving forward, one runs against the
creature and it growls; moving back
ward one steps upon its tail and it
snarls. It lies on the back piazza to be
carefully stepped over IN the daytime
and disastrously stumbled over in the
night; and haunts the front steps to
bark at every visitor coming in, and
howl at every member Of the family 60
ing out.
Mrs. Wilkin kept no dog, but her
duty shifted an opportunity, and
pounced out of its hiding-place, when
there came a timid little knock at the
dining-room door in the early morning;
and its answering revealed small,
quiet-faced, brown-robed figure face
and dress both past the freshness of
their youth-carrying basket.
Good morning, Mrs. Wilkin,"
Some IMP" questioned Mrs Will1in,
with only half an invitation in her voice.
The acceptance was a half one, like
wise. The little brown woman stepped
in, certainly, and poised herself on the
outer edge of q chan near the door.
IL called to see if you didn't want to
buy some knitted articles, or to engage
some work of that sort, in gentle, de-
preciating voice, HlUU.
"Well, i don't, J" interposed Mrs. Will
kin very positively. Il do all that kind
Of work myself" N#
~ didn't know. Many ladies haven't
lime, and I'm glad to do 1t"
Il suppose SO, but I consider it my
duty to do all can myself andset other
folks the example, whether they follow
it or not,1 said Mrs Wilkin, with a.
slight gesture like employing her hands
of responsibility. "If l was agoin' to
give out work at all, it would be some
hard jobs that it would be help to be
rid of, not the pick and choice little easy
things that I could rest and not work;
but then [ amt so particular as scnle,
and so I do oil kinds myself" -.
A faint flush crossed the visitors
thin face She was not quite sure that
she had been called INDECENT, and adj
vised to go to work and earn an honest
living; the words only had an uncom-
Portable sound; so her lips kept their
timid, gentle smile, though they trem-
bled little, She held first one hand
III it's thin cotton glove, and then the
other, to the fire; moved uneasiiy,
glanced down at her feet with o dim
thought that it they had always chosen
the smoothest path it had yet seen
rough enough to wear out her shoes
much faster than She could replace
them and then she rose to so. 8 NN
g Wasn't you rather hard on her,
Tiz 'beth?" asked Mr.. Wilkin, with q
regretful glance toward the door as it
closed
Mrs, Willin returned to her seat at
Che breakfast table, and surveyed hin
over the shining tin ooffee-pot ..l
lizard ON her? J. only told her what
do, and if that pricks her conscience
and makes her uncomfortable, it's not
any fault. Bdt You needn't worry; she
5u2t said, Good-mornin',' as sweet as
ever. She's one of the weak kind that
can't be stirred up, and haven't spunk
enough to say their souls are their own.
wonder what such folks are good for;
they'll never make the world any BETTER.
thatssure. They haven't courage enough
to put down any evil if it was right
under their noses; they'd only stand
and smile. The very sight of one of 'em
provokes me! / consider it my duty to
speak out when | see things goin'
wrong" "
But then everybody amt alike, Liz
'peth, " interposed Mr., Wilkin.
Needn't tell me that, it's plain
enough" snapped Mrs. Wilkin. aJust
iook at this observation-disclosures
orderly place two years AGO: and now
there's mill started and all sorts of
Wsabonds brought here to work in it.
Ii FFlhad my way they wouldn't have
come an, now they're here, somebody
ought to keep sharp watch on EN-.
but that's the trouble; there's so many
m'd easy folks that want to sit still an
10 re knlttin' work of life that there's
precious few left to take any care of the
good of society" All
u don't see as the mill folks have
done any mischief vet, 'Liz'heth."
VI course you don't see, and nobody
else sees bud | know there's something
Goia on when the lower part of the1niu
:, -'hat Ola empty storeroom back where
!! can be seen from the street is
u8uted up two or three nights every
' Week" said Mrs Wilkin, triumphantly.
I've watched the twinkle through the
shutters, tight as they're shut, and seen
folks slppin' in through the door, too.
1Vs time 1t was looked after, and I'll do
my DUTY, If nobody else does. There
may be gang of thieves or counter
lelters starting for all we know"
A suppressed giggle made Tim sud
denly cough and put down his coffee
cup,
Timothy" exclaimed his aunt Sc
Yerely' If you can't drink coffee with
out doing it so fast that YOU choke
yourself you'll have to go without it.
I'll do my best to bring you up right,
whatever comes of it."
Bringing Tim up in the way he
should go was one Of Mrs. Wilkins
strong points He was the son of her
niece, and Belinda had married in oppo-
slhon to her aunt's advice. Mrs. Will
KIN had protested and then washed her
hands Of the whole matter. But when
the poor man was so inconsiderate as to
die and leave Belinda with half a dozen
children, just when She needed his helm
Mrs. Wilkins opinion Of his general
SlacNness' was verified. The family
was poor, of course. She didn't believe
IN sending in many thingsMself-depen.
dence was blessing--but she offered
Having the boy to raise makes ma
more careful Of the morals Of the wbo1e
-. Viz MllOlS