The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-08-30
LITTLE BROTHER.
BY ). T. TRowBRIDGE.

He was nUt so very little either.
He was fourteen years old and as
tall as most boys of his age
But he was a shy and sensitive
child, with features almost as deli
cate as those of a girl. And COM
pared with his big brothers, he seem
ed fitted well enough by the nick
name they had given him.
They were great, rough fellows,
the youngest OF whom, though only
seventeen. appeared full grown
man, That was Luff-a word into
which his real name, Elphaz, had
been appropriately boiled down.
Somehow Luff Keeler exactly de
scribed the fat. stout. chubby cheek
ed, iovial, rude, reckless sort of boy
he was.
Then there were Walt, aged nine
teen, and Russ. twenty-one: tall,
bony, muscular young men, loud
voiced, full of course fun and brag.
How Milton that was the name of
Little Brother, could have been one
OF the same family, and yet so Who'll
ly unlike these three, was "A subject
OF wondering remark to everybody
who knew them.
The nickname had not been be-
slowed upon him out of tenderness,
| am sorry to say. but rather out of
contempt They could not under
stand how anybody should be so
fond of books and pictures, freside
quiet and bis mothers society.
The truth was, Milton loved fun
as well as they, but very different
sort of fun; and it was his dread OF
their rude WAYS which drove him to
the chimney corner and the shelter
of bis mothers affection. She was
gentle, quiet woman, to be the
mother of three such sboisterous
young men; and the youngest boy
was naturally her pet.
Many a time she had to take his
part against the tyranny he suffered
from them, especially from Lun.
Not that Luff was viciously cruel to
Little Brother; being so unlike him.
he never knew how cruel some of
his tricks really were. If he thought
of anything Milton especially alb
horred, like the sight of reptile. or
the blood curdliDg shrek of sharp
ening saw, he took strange delight
in intlicting it upon him.
He's got to get used to such
things" he would say, when the
mother reproved him; whats the
use of his being a baby all his life?"
But what's the use of your tor
menting the life out of him when
you know that he can't eudure such
things?n she many times had occa-
sion to reply, with eyes that could
flash when she was reused.
Gentle as she was, she had much
reserved dignity and determination
of character, which commanded the
respect even of the lawless Lufi. He
would turn laughingly away at such
times. with u careless, '0h, well.
won't bother Little Brother any
more. and perhaps play another
trick upon him within an hour.
Mr.. keeler. u kind hearted but
not a very refined man, also took the
part of the youngest when the 9TH
ers were too rough with him; more
to satisfy his wife, however. than be-
cause he thought Milton ought to
mind their jokes
Now. boys" he said one day, as
he was about leaving home, don't
you 60 10 plaguing Milton while
I'm away: do leave him in peace for
once, if only to please vour mother"
They were digging a well in the
cattle yard; they had reached ledge
which they had to blast, and Mr..
Keeler WAS driving TO town to get
some drills sharpened.
Now, Milton" he said to Little
Brother, who held the gate open for
him to drive through, help your
brothers and don't mind their nom
sense
What you call nonsense is some
times awful to me. replied the boy
from the ground. Why can't they
let me alone?"
They would if you wouldn't pay
any attention 10 their jokes" said
his father.
Il can't help paying attention"
Milton exclaimed What does Luff
catch me for and hold me up to the
brink of the well and make believe
he is going to tumble me in2"
''But you know he won {, said his
father.
"Of course / know he won't. But
/ don't like to be held at the brink
of the well and made to look down
with him pushing me. 1t gives me
a horrible feeling" And tears start
ed TO the boys eyes.
"Well, well. / don't think he
will 1o ~ auy Ynorp- any Way try