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What work does Helen Robinson begin doing after her husband's death?
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After her husband's death, Helen Robinson begins working as Link Deas's cook. Link hires her to ensure she and her children are not left destitute and to counteract the cruelty of Maycomb's residents. He also protects Helen from harassment by Bob Ewell, warning him to stay away from her or face legal consequences.
After her husband's death, Helen Robinson becomes Link Deas's cook. For his part, Link makes a job for Helen because Tom's death weighs heavily on him. It's also likely that Link hires Helen because of the way the larger Maycomb community reacts to Tom's death:
Did you hear about?… No? Well, they say he was runnin‘ fit to beat lightnin’…” To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw. Funny thing, Atticus Finch might’ve got him off scot free, but wait—? Hell no. You know how they are. Easy come, easy go. Just shows you, that Robinson boy was legally married, they say he kept himself clean, went to church and all that, but when it comes down to the line the veneer’s mighty...
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thin. Nigger always comes out in ‘em.
In the above quote, we can see how the malicious gossip surrounding Tom's death might add to Helen's grief. So, Mr. Link Deas hires Helen for two reasons: to ensure that Helen and her children do not become destitute after Tom's death, and to make up for the general cruelty of Maycomb's populace.
We know that Mr. Link Deas hires Helen to be his cook from the following text:
“First thing you can do, Ewell, is get your stinkin‘ carcass off my property. You’re leanin’ on it an‘ I can’t afford fresh paint for it. Second thing you can do is stay away from my cook or I’ll have you up for assault—”
To protect Helen, Mr. Link Deas gives Bob Ewell a verbal warning. If Bob Ewell persists in harassing Helen, assault charges will be filed against him. Mr. Link Deas also warns Bob that the Ladies Law of Alabama is on his side. According to the Criminal Code of Alabama (1907), any person who uses abusive or insulting language against any girl or woman will be subject to imprisonment, hard labor up to 6 months, and/or a fine up to two hundred dollars. When Bob Ewell realizes that Mr. Link Deas is serious, he stops harassing Helen.