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

She ALWAYS tried 10 10 it." She said.
hut. like the kitchen work Of poor honsc-
keepers. il was never done up. Tim
insisted TINT there Mns mere than he
long.d To ono fnmily: Aunt Iizbcth
took in a good deal for other folks: I"
mud once III shyly chnlkea sign upon
the front door. DUTY Done Here" but
then Tim Ind arrived MT II peculiar ago
when Il 10y Ind no lights and is needed
to RIM on crrands, and il il probable
that duty his amt's, not his own in
tcrfered with his comfort even more
than that Of older people.
In truth. Mrs Wilkins duty was not
convenient article to have about the
hon e. II was hristling. aggressive
affair. always springing up unexpected
IL. like one Of the dogs 50 unaccuunta-
lily pe,ted in some households for their
sole yirtnc Of heing always in the why.
Moving forward. one runs against the
creature aud it groMls: moving hack
ward. one steps upon its tail and it
snarls. Ii lies OH the back piazza IT, be
carefully stepped over in the daytime
and disas,ronslv stumbled over i'll tho
=
lark NJ every visitor coming in, and
howl Il every member Of the family GO
ing out.
Mrs. Wilkin kept no dog, but her
duty shifted nh opportunity, and
pounced out Of its hiding place, when
there came timid little knock ut the
dining-room door in the early morning |;
and its answering revealed small,
quiet faced, hrown-rohed figure face
and dress both past the freshness of
their youth-carrving basket.
Good morning. Mrs. Wilkin.'
Come ins" questioned Mrs. Wilkin,
with anlv halt an invitation IN her voice.
The acceptance VAS u half one. like
wise. The little brown woman stepped
IN. certainly. and poised herself on tho
outer edge ii chair near the door.
Il called to see ii You didn't want to
buy some knitted articles. or t. engage
some work Of that sort" in gentle, do
preciating Voice.
We'll. don't" interposcd Mrs VIII
kin very positively. Il do all tina. kind
oil work myself
4 didn't know Many ladies haven't
time. and I'm glad to do it.
II suppose SO. but I consider il my
duty 10 do al can myself and set other
folks tho example. whether they follow
il or not, said Mrs. Milkin, with a
slight gesture like emptving her hands
Of responsibility. IF | VAS agoin' to
give on, work nj MI. ii would he some
hard jobs that II would he a help to he
rid If. not the pick and choice little easy
things tina, could rest and not work !;
hut then amt So particular rs some,
and 50 ito MI kinds myself"
4 faint flush crossed the visitors
thin face. She was not quite sure that
she had been called incident, and ad-
sised To 30 10 work and earn an honest
living: the words only had an uncom-
Portable sound. 50 her lips kept their
timid. gentle smile though they trem-
BLEED Il little. She held first one hand
in its thin cotton glove. and then the
other to the fire. moved uneasilv.
glanced down ut her feet with dim
thought that If they had always chosen
the smoothest path it had yet been
rough enough to wear ont her shoes
much faster than she could replace
them. and then she rose to 20.
Wasn't won rather hard on her,
Ii2heth?" asked Mr. Wilkm, with a
rcar.tful glance toward the door as il
closed
Mrs. Wilkm returned to her seat at
the breakfast table, and surveyed him
OVER the shining tin coifee-pot.
lila 4 on hers / only told her what
/ do. and, il that pricks her conscience
and makes her uncomfortable. its not
my fault. Tut you needn't worry: she
Just said. Good.mornin'.' as sweet as
ever, She's one Of the weak kind that
can, H. stirred up, and haven't srnnk
enough 10 say their souls are their own,
| wonder what such folks are good for;
theyll never make the world any better.
that'>sure They haven't courage enough
IL pm, down any evil il il VAS right
under their noses; they'd only stand
ami smile The very sight nj one If en-
rrasakes me- consider it my duty To
speak out when l see things goin'
Mngg
! In then everybody amt alike, Liz
beth, in,crpasei Mr.. Wilkin.
Needn't tell me that. it's plain
.nneg.," snapped Mrs. Wilkin. Just
look ut this neiyhhorhool--p eaceablc.
orderly place two Years ago. and now
THERE'S u mill started aud all sorts If
Nasal'nad> brought here to work in il.
Ii I'll hal my way they wouldn't have
come, an, now they're here. somebody
ought u keep sharp watch on en-.
Ka' that's the trouble: there's So many
n, i, easy folks that want To sit still an
80 tie lniitln work II life that there's
pree.ons few left to take any care OF the
good al society
4 don't So as the mill folks have
done any mischief vet. Iiz'heth"
"af course Won don't see. and nobody
Else see~: Int know there's something
goia' IN. when the lower part Of the mill
that old empty storcroon hack where
i cant I've seen from the street ~ is
hghted up two or three nights every
M.cA,a said Mrs. Wilkin. trinmphanily.
I've watched the twinkle through the
shutters, tight as they're shut. and seen
folks slnaln' in through the door. too.
II ) time II Wis looked after. and I'll do
my auiy. II nobody else does. There
may ~ gang II thieves or counter
letters starting for all We know"
4 suppressed giggle made Tim sud
denly cough and pat down his coffee
cup,
Timothy exclaimed his aunt. se-
sereis, If snn cant drink coffee with.
out doing il - fast that YOU choke
yourself You'll have to 20 wi,hoa, ii.
I'll do nay best to hiring You up right,
whatever comes of ii"
Bringing Tim up in the way he
should "a was one of Mrs. Wilkins
strong points He VAS the son of her
ni'ee. ANIL belinda Ind married i'm annn-
siiion 10 Ter annt's advice. Mrs. Nn-
hin lid protested and then washed her
hand II tsls whole matter. But when
tic 10 H taan Was 50 lncansilera.e a. 10
Ill" aad i,tays Behind with half dozen
chiii{sn Just when she needed his helm
Mr. Nj hln's opinion If his general
",iaekgc~," aas verified The family
MAS poor af course. She didn't believe
in sending lii many things self.dspen.
tlrn.e ga blessing Int she offered