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

verely, IL you can't drink coHee WIN
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-
sition 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 dozen
children, just when she needed his help
Mrs. Wilkins opinion of his general
"slackness" was verified. The family
was poor, of course She didn't believe
in sending in many things-self-depen-
dence was a blessing-but she offered
to take Tim. .-i-..-...------
Having the boy to raise makes me
more careful of the morals OF the whole
place" she said, returning to her origi-
nal subject; "and, as to there being no
thieves round here, I've thought for
some time that the hens went pretty
fast from the hen-house." .i.4 3.
Don't Liz'beth, I'm sure
no ones stole my said Mr.. Wilkin,
with a startled, uneasy look. You
you couldn't have counted the ROSTERS,
and everything"
"No. L don't count, but can miss 'em
for all that" affirmed Mrs. Wilkin, de-
cidedly. II know there's more than We
use, or that die"
Anyhow, it's no difference I
wouldn't, 'Liz'beth - there's plenty,
YOU see; more than we want" adj
vised Mr.. Wilkin, urgently, but rather
incoherently Then he caught up his
hat and darted for the barn.
Mrs. Wilkin looked after him with
plying disapproval.
when you have more than you want
yourself, leave it handy for somebody
to steal! Well, that's new command
ment, / do declared" she said.
Not so dreadful new, neither, Aunt
Liz'beth," interposed Tim, stoutly.
"'Cause the Bible folks were always
told to be sure and leave some of their
harvest 50 the poor could come and
get it. I read it myself, only it wasn't
Cdi1eO SOcdIhS Ihch, "ili "ao w 10
left handler than all shut up in hem
houses"
"Timothy!" began Mrs. Wilkin. But
Tim suddenly remembered that the
chickens were waiting for their break
fast, and chose to interpret the excla-
nation as an admonition in that direc-
ton.
"Yes'm. I'm going to feed 'em right
away" he observed, Selling a basket Of
corn and darling through the door by
which his uncle had departed.
In truth it was not altogether easy to
mold Tim into the desired shape; there
was too much individuality about him.
mcasing him in Mrs. Wilkins code of
manners was putting too large a boy
into too small jacket; he was always
bursting out ut the elbows or tearing
off the buttons. Mrs. Wilkin sighed at
this new evidence of the new number of
things in the world that needed atten-
ton; but England never expected every
man to do his duty more strongly than
Mrs Wilkin expected to here.
That evening the mysterious lights
appeared again in the store-room of the
mill. She could plainly see them, for
just beyond her own back gate an open
field sloped directly and steeply down
to the building. The road afforded a
public and more circuitous mode of
reaching it, but from the hilltop the
suspicious store-room was directly in
range. Mrs. Wilkin determined to take
a 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
crossed the yard to the gate. The snow
lay white and glistening in the moon
light, and, standing in the sheltering
shadow of post, she watched the door
below.
But before she discovered any one en-
tering there she heard sounds in an
other direction-steps. in the yard be-
hind her What if she should prove be-
yond all doubt that her fowls were
stolen and detect the thief? With that
quick thought she turned her head
cautiously. Yes, some one tried the
hennery door and entered. Breathlessly
Mrs. Wiikin waited until the figure re-
appeared and passed along in the shade
of the house, and then, as it emerged
into the clear moonlight, she leaned
eagerly forward TO catch full sight Of
it. 1t was easily recognized-Mr.
Willlin. beyond all question, stealing
from his own hennery.
The revelation was astounding. In
her establishment Mrs. Wilkin incau-
tiously loosened her hold on the gate
post, took step forward, and her feet
slipped upon the treacherous ground.
She sat down violently, and in an instant
was speeding rapidly down the hill to-
ward her original point of investigation.
For once the path of duty was smooth
before her-entirely too smooth and
icy. She could not check or guide her
progress, her feet struck with force
against the mysterious door, pushed it
open and she slid into a hall
Thieves, gamblers, or whatever they
were, she must not be discovered by
them, flashed through Mrs. Wilkins
mind-more an instinct of self-preser-
walton than thought-and, springing
to her feet, she slipped behind some
boxes piled near her. The noise at
tracted attention, and in moment the
store-room door was opened and boy