The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-11-06

had always chosen tho smoothost path
it had been rough enough 10 wear out
hor shoes much faster than she could
| replace them. and then she arose 10 70.
| /" Wasn't you rather hard on her,
| 'LizabethP" asked Mr.. Wilkin. with q
regrctful glance towards the door as It
| closed.
Mrs. Wilkin returned 70 her seat at
tho breakfast table and surveyed him
over the coilce-pot
/" Hard on her? only told her what
do, and II that pricks her conscience
and makes her uncomfortable it's not
my fault. But you needn't worry; she
Just said good morning as sweet as ever.
She's one Of the weak kind that cant
say their souls their own. wonder
what such fools are good for? They'll
never make the world any better, that's
sure. They haven't courage enough to
help put down any evil. tit was right
under their noses; they only stand and
smile. The very sight Of EN- provokcs
me. consider II my duty to speak out
when see things going 50 wrong"
. But then everybody amt alike,
Liz BETH" intcrposed Mr. Wilkin.
!" Needn't tell me that! it's plain
enough" snapped Mrs Wilkin. "Just
look at this neighborhood peaceable,
orderly place two years ago, and now
there's a new mill started and all sorts
Of vagabonds brought here to work in
It. IT'D had my way. they wouldn't
have come. and now they are here
somebody ought to keep a sharp watch
| on 'em. Bat that's the trouble; there's
so many mild. easy folks that want to
| sit still and do the Knittin' work Of life.
| that there's precious few lett to take
care OF the good OF society,""
= 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 l know there's something
| going on. when the lower part Of the
mill tho old empty store-room back
there. II can't be seen from the street
| il lighted up two or three nights every
week. said Mrs Wilkin. triumphantly.
1--we watched the twinkling through
the shutters. tight as they're shut, and
seen folks slppin' in through the door
| too. It's time il was looked after. and
1 Ill do my duty IL nobody else does.
| There may be . gang Of thieves or
counterfciters starting for all we know"
! A suppressed giggle made Tim sud-
denly cough and put down his coffee
cup.
''Timothyr' exclaimed his aunt,
severely, 'if you can't drink coffee
| without dom it so fast that you choke
yourself. you'll have to 60 without it.
Ill do my best to bring you up right,
| whatever comes Of it"'
| Bringing up Tim in the way he
! should 90 was one OF Mrs. wilkins
strong points. lie was the son Of her
niece. and Belinda had married in OPP
position to her aunt's advice. Mrs.
| Wilkin protested aud then washed her
hands OF the whole matter.
| But when the poor man was so in
consideratc as to die and leave Belinda
with half dozen children just when
she needed his help. Mrs. wilkins
opinion of his general sickness was
verified. The lmly were poor. Of
course She didn't believe in sending
many things sclf-dcpendence was a
duty but she offered to take Tim.
Having the boy to raise makes me
more careful about the morals Of the
whole place." she said, returning to
her original subject ''and as for there
being no thieves round here. I've
thought for some time that meat went
pretty fast from our smoke-housc.
"Don't--now Liz beth, l. Il M sure no
ones stole any," said Mr.. Wilkin. with
startled, uneasy look. You couldn't
have counted the hams and every
thing"
'.No, l don't count. but l can miss
'cm for all that" affirmed Mrs. Wilkin,
decidedly. II know there's more 60
than we use"
Anyway, it's no difference. !
wouldn't Liz bcth--thcres plenty, you
see. more than we want" advised MIR.
Wilkin. urgently. but rather incohcr-
entity. Then he caught up his hat and
started for the barn.
| Mrs Wilkn looked after him with
plying disapproval.
"When you We more than you want
yourself. leave 1t handy for somebody
to steal. Well, that's new command
ment. do Declare" she said.
''Not so dreadful new, either. Aunt
BETH" interposed Tim. stoutly;
"cause tho Bible folks are told to leave
some Of their harvest so the poor could
come and get IL read II myself; only
it wasn't called stealing then. and was
to be left handler than all slowed away
in smoke-houses."
Timothy" began Mrs. Wilkin. But
Tim suddenly remembered that the
chickens were waiting for breakfast
and choose TO interpret the exclamation
as an admonition in that direction.
'.Ycs'm, I'm going to feed 'em right
away" he observed, seizing . basket Of
corn and darling through the door BY
which his uncle had departed.
In truth II was not altogether easy to
mold Tim to the desired shape; there
was too much individuality about him.
Incasing him in Mrs. wilkins code Of
manners was putting too large a boy
into TOO small a jacket; he was always
bursting out at the elbows, or tearing
| of the buttons. Mrs. Wilkin sighed at
this new evidence Of The number Of
things in che world that needed her at
tcntion; but England never expected
every man to do his duty moro strongly
than Mrs. Wilkin expected to do hers.
That evening the my stcrious lights
appeared again in the storc-room Of the
mill. She could plainly see them, for