The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-09-22
MRS. WILKINS DUTY.

keepers, it was never done up. lin
insisted that there was more than be-
konged to one family; Aunt Liz'beth
took in good deal for other folks"
and once he shyly chalked sign upon
the front door, DUTY Done Here" But
then Tim had arrived at a peculiar age
when boy had no rights and is needed
TO run on errands, and it is probable
chat 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
", like one of the dogs so unaccounta-
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. 1t 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 Mt every member of the family 60
ing out.
Mrs. Wilkin kept no dog, but her
duty smiled an opportunity, and
pounced out of its hiding-place, when
talere came q timid little knock ut the
dining-roo door in the early morning;
and its answering revealed a small,
quiet-faced, brown-robed figure-face
and dress both past the freshness of
their youth-carrying basket.
"Good morning, Mrs. WillIin."
"Come in?" questioned Mrs. Wilkin,
with only half an invitation in her voice.
The acceptance was half one, like
wise. The little brown woman stepped
m, certainly, and poised herself on the
outer edge of chair near the door.
81 called to see if you didn't want to
buy some knitted articles, or to engage
some work of that sort" in a gentle, de-
preciating voice.
well, I don't" interposed Mrs Viii
kin very positively. Il do ali that kind
OF work myself.
Il didn't know. Many ladies haven't
time, and I'm glad to do it"
81 suppose so, but / consider it my
duty to do al I can myself and set other
folks the example. whether they follow
it or not" said Mrs Wil1in, with a
slight gesture like emptying her hands
of responsibility. "If | 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 / could rest and not work !;
but then amt so particular as some,
and so / do all kinds myself"
4 faint flush crossed the visitors
thin face She was not quite sure that
she had been called indolent, and adj
vised to 90 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
In It's 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 yet been
rough enough to wear out her shoes
much faster than she could replace
them and then she rose to go.
Wasn't you rather hard on her,
Tiz'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 shining tin cotfee-pot.
Hard on her? only told her what
I 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 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,
that's sure. 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 EN-
provokes mel l consider it my duty TO
speak out when L see things goin'
wrong"
"But then everybody amt alike, Liz
beth" interposed Mr. Wilkin.
Needn't tell me that, It's plain
enough" snapped Mrs. Wilkin. Just
look at this acknowledgements,
orderly place two years ago; and now
there's a mill started and all sorts of
vagabonds brought here to work i'll it.
If I'd had 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
mild, easy folks that want to sit still an
do the knittin' work of life that there's
precious few left to take any care of the
good of society"
II 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 i know there's something
goin on, when the lower part of the mill
that old empty storeroom back where
1t can't be seen from the street is
lighted up two or three nights every
week" said Mrs. WilIin, triumphantly
~Ive watched the twinkle 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 counter
feiters starting for all we know"