Tillie: A Mennonite Maid

id by pinning her petticoat into a bag and concealing the book in it. It was in this way that she always

ishment would be did he discover her bringing home a "novel"! She was not permitted to bring home even a school-book, and she had greatly astonished M

o without," Tillie's father had said. "Whe

in bringing up his many children in the fear of his heavy hand, in unceasing labor, and in almost total abstinence from all amusement and self-indulgence.

nd comfortable. The only variation from the deadly monotony of her mechanical and unceasing labor was found in her habit of irritability with her stepchild. She considered Tillie "a dopple" (a stupid, awkward person); for though usually a wonderful little household worker, Tillie, when very much tired out, was apt

e of her little brothers or sisters. Nevertheless, it was invariably Tillie who was slighted in the small expenditures that were made each year for the family clothing. The child had always really preferred that the others should have "new things" rather than herself-until Miss Margaret came; and now, before Miss Mar

ul near," which means very penurious, and considered by the more gentle-minded Amish and Mennonites of the township to be "overly strict" with his family and "too ready with

road. Every shutter on the front and sides of the building was tightly closed, and there was no sign of life about the place. A stranger, ignorant of the Pennsylvania Dutch custom of living in the kitchen an

d was put to such unproductive use; and the small lawn was closely bordered by a corn-field on the one side and on the other by

the pillow of her bed when she went up-stairs to change her faded

er went up-stairs during the day, except at the rare times when obliged to change one's clothes. Every one washed at the pump and used the one family roller-towel hanging on the porch. Miss Margaret, ever since

ields and up-stairs to the little low-roofed bed-chamber which she shared with her two half-sisters. They were already in bed and as

er her pillow. Not yet dared she venture to light a candle and read it-not u

were procured with money paid to her by Miss Margaret for helping her to clean the school-room on Friday afternoons after school. Tillie woul

r father's custom-ever since, at the age of five, she had begun to go to school-to "time" her in coming home at no

When school is done, you come right away home the

at half-past three instead of four, and Tillie, with bribes of candy bought with part of her weekly wage of ten cents, secured secrecy as to this inno

every one was asleep, she would bring up from the kitchen to her bedside. But this was dangerous, as it often led to awkward inqu

remely judicious carefulness lighted her candle, propped up her pillow, and settled down to read as long as she should be able to hold her eyes open. The litt

that Miss Margaret's eyes and mind had moved over every word and thought which, she was now absorbing. But soon her intense interest in the story excluded every o

ndle was beginning to sputter to its end, she still was reading, her eyes bright as stars, her usually pale face flushed with excitement, her sens

this yet!" sternly demanded her fa

through her mind that the book could change into a Bible as he looked at it!-which miracl

e said in genuine horror. "Till

ther than betray Miss Margaret; for her father, like Absalom's, was a school director, and if he knew M

Elviny Dinkleber

you know I don't uphold to novel-readin'! I 'll have to learn

ght it

re d'you get

new she had already perjured her soul beyond redemption

it in t

h did yo

cen

hout astin' me dare you. Now I'm

he youngest little sister, in her fright and sympathy with Tillie, to a high-pitched wailing. The rest of

art of her punish

at last his hand was stayed. "And any more that comes home goes

soul hot with shame and hatred, the child stifled her

he use of living? If only she could die and be dead like a cat or a bird and not go to hell, she would take the carving-knife and kill herself! But there was hell to be taken into consideration. And yet, could hell hold anything worse than the los

chool-days, Tillie went next mo