The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-10-30

their possessing. Some things do show
more clearly IN the dark than In the
light
As the timid little woman, who would
have been frightened at the sound of
her own voice in any other audience
half so large, explained in her simple,
gentle way, the passage read, it occur
red to the listener outside that some
one was keeping t'sharp watch on
those mill people, after all, and that
this might be better way of doing it
than might be practiced by any police
force. 1t was very informal school.
One girl had brought her best dress to
mend rent in it, and another was try
ing to knit a pair of mittens for her
brother. Every winter has its thaws.
Mrs Wiikin had a heart down under
all the crust of opinions that she chris
tened duty; she became interested, de-
spite her uncomfortable situation.
The position was unpleasant She
did not like playing eaYesdropper to
this innocent gathering, but there
escape through the locked door, and
boldly revealing herself and explaining
her absurd suspicious and the remark
able way in which she had come there
was more than ever her thought could
endure. So she kept her place, hoping
that when the pupils were dismissed
she might slip cut unnoticed. But when
the lesson hour was over they parted
slowly, by twos and threes, the open
door fiinging a flood of light out into
the hall. At last only one fingered,
and Mrs. Wilkin listened intently as she
caught his voice.
'tNow, Tim" said the little knitting
woman, Il like to have you come, you
know that, and IN help you all I can,
but you must tell your aunt about it. !"
swell. you see, / don't know what
she'l II say began Tim, irresolutely.
'But that shouldn't hinder you from
doing your duty"
Don't know about that said Tim,
still doubtful. "You see Aunt Liz
beth's got an, awful mount of duty of
her own, and its such partic' lar kind
that other folks can't get much chance
to do theirs, only when hers is a-nap-
pin. Why, Uncle Reub gives my
mother lots of meat but he just slips it
off and don't tell"
'Well, if you don't know what is
right for you | know what is right for
ma" said the little teacher, with a
quiet laugh, land I can t let you come
again until you tell your aunt how you
spend your EVENING"" 5#
Mrs. Wilkin nodded a vigorous ap-
proval, but it was evident that Tim de-
parted in a state of dissatisfaction.
There was a sound of a crutch tap
ping ON the floor, and Mrs. Wilkin re-
membered that a little lame brother
had sometimes gone about with the
knitting-woman. They two were left
alone in the room, and went around
shaking out the fire and putting up
books and papers.
"Only ten cents week for each one
that's SO little, - said the boyish tones,
musingly.
Eyes, but it isn't so very much that
can teach them,' answered the little
woman, humbly. "And then it's all
they can afford to pay, poor things.
And you know we began more for their
sake than our own, though we do need
the money. Courage, though johnny!
1t all counts, and you shall have your
overcoat pretty soon now. Besides,
this is work that blesses both ways-in
what we give as we'll as what we get, ;"
Ii she could on " pass that open door,
Mrs. Wilkin was growing benumbed by
standing so long IN the cold. Finally
the lights were extinguished and the
two came out. Just then, fortunately,
Johnny remembered theyQ had left q
book behind them, and as they turned
back the prisoner seized her oppor-
tunity and escaped.
She was sitting alone by the fire when
Tim, who had made his homeward
route sufficiently circuitous to include a
call on his mother, returned. He sat
down near her, twisted his fingers I'M
easily, and Mrs. Wilkin guessed what
was coming.
There's been an evenin' school here,
Aunt Liz beth"
so understand" responded Mrs.
Wilkin, coolly.
''Why, l thought" began Tim with
wide open eyes, and then checked him.
self with a sudden reflection that it
might not be well to recall the CONVEX
sation of the morning I'D like to go
to ie-that is, have been once Or
twice. he said. 'Fact is, Aunt Liza
beth, when we lived down the river,
before you took me, there wasn't any
school for me to 60 to, and SO Pm be-
hind other fellers. Miss Kelsey she
makes 'rithmetic so plain and helps me
with writin and SOL
You might do worse,'' said Mrs.
Wlkln, briefly. go if you want to.
Only one thing, Timothy Stone. /
won't have any ten-cent business about
it. Honest is honest, and it's worth
morn ten cents week to teach you
anything, as | knows
Tim forgot to be astonished at his
aunt's knowledge, and overlooked the
reflection upon himself in the pleasure
of expressing desire that he had cher
ished secretly but hopelessly.
''She wouldn't take any more paw
cause she'd want to serve all alike; but
oh, Aunt Liz beth, if could just give
her and Johnny something nice for
Christmas.
"Humphl I'll think about it," not
disapproyingly.
Liz beth, . began Mr.. Wilkin, nerv-
ously, the next morning, Il wouldn't
say nothin to anybody about thieves
or watchin' them mill folks, if I was
YOU"
Il don't mean to- replied his wife,
with an odd quicker about her lips.
Well, I'm glad of til really am,
said MIR. Wilkln in q tone of great re-
lief. Il don't think anybody has stole
anything, and somehow it seems to me
as if our duty nowadays is good deal
like it was when them Israelites took
Jericho-only just marching against
the bit of wall that's right in front of
us, and lettin' our neighbors take care
of what's in front of them. 1t sort of
seems that way. Liz beth. !"
Mrs Wilkin did not answer, but she
took her revenge that evening when Mr..
Wilkin was going out.
Reuben she said, quietly, If you
see any thieves round our smoke,
house, just tell EN- there's couple of
chickens hanging near the door that I
dressed a-purpose. 1t s natural Be
linda d like a change of meat az we'll as