The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-08-16
LITTLE BROTHER.

80 ""' NV ~ '.Iy llllle eIllcT. lie
was fourteen years old and as tall as
most boys Of bis age.
But he was a Shy and sensitive child,
with features almost as delicate as those
OF q girl. And compared with his bio
brothers, he seemed fitted well enough
by the nickname they had given him.
They were great, rough fellows, tue
youngest Of whom. though only seven
teen, appeared full-growu man. That
was Lutf word into which, his real
name, Eiphnz had been appropriately
boiled down. Somehow INF Keelerex-
actiy described the fat, stout, chubby
checked, jOvial, rude, reckless sort Of
boy he was
Then there were Walt, aged nineteen.
and Russ, twenty-one; tall, bony, mus
cular young men, loud-yoiced, full Of
coarse fun and brag How Milton Chat
was the name Of Little Brother) could
have been one of the same family, and
yet so wholly unlike these three, was a
subject Of wondering remark to every
body who knew them.
The nickname had not been bestowed
upon him out Of tenderness, | am sorry
to say, but rather out of contempt.
They could not understand how any
body should be so fond Of books and
pictures, liresde quiet and his 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 his mother
affection. She was agentle, quiet wom-
an, to be the mother Of three such bois-
ferrous young men; and the youngest
boy was naturally her pet
Many time she had TO take his part
against the tyranny he suffered from
them especially from LuGf Not that
Luil was yiciousIy cruel to Little Broth
er; being so unlike him, he never knew
how cruel some of his tricks really were.
II he thought of anything Milton espe-
orally abborred like the sight of rep
tile, or the blood-curdling shrek Of
sharpening saw, he took a strange de-
light in inhicting it upon him.
He's got to get used to such things"
he would say, when the mother eproved
him; whats the use Of his being baby
all his life?'
"But what's the use of your torment
ing the life out of him when YOU know
that he can't endure such things?H she
many times had occasion to reply, with
eyes that could fash when she was
reused
Gentle as she was, she had much re-
iprri To at,1 Aaen ina 10 q
character, which commanded the re-
spect even of the lawless Lutf He
would turn laughingly away at such
times, with careless, "Oh, wall won't
bother Little Brother any morew and
perhaps play another trick upon him
within an hour.
lIr, Keller, & kind-hearted but not a
very refined man, also took the part OF
tie youngest when the others were too
rough with him; more to satisfy his
wife, however, than because ne ,hnu ght
Milton ought TO mind their Jokes,
"Now, boysr he said one day, as he
was about leaving home, don't you 90
10 plaguing Milton while I'm away; do
leave him in peace for once, If only TO
please your mother
They were digging a well in the cat
tle.yard; they had reached ledge which
they had to blast, and Mr., Keller was
driving to town to get some drills sharp
ened. H.
Now, Miltonm he said to Little
Brother, who held the gate open for him
to drive through, "help your brothers
and don't mind their nonsense"
What you call nonsense is sometimes
awful 10 met replied the boy from the
ground. why can't they let me
alonep'
They would, if you wouldn't pay
any attention TO their jokes said hi
father.
n can't help paying attention. Mil.
ton exclaimed, What does Luf catcl
me for and hold me up to the brink o
the well and make believe he is going
to tumble me imp
"But you know he won'tN said hi
father,
"Of course know he won't, But
don't ike to be held at the brink Of the
well and made TO look down with him
pushing me! II gives me horrible
feelingw And tears started to the boys
eyes.
"Well, well! don't think he will dc
it any more; any way, try not to mine
il il he does" With which mildly con
solng words Mr.. Keeler drove of tC
town.
1t was some time before Milton wen
to the yard where the work was going
on. That gave Luif chance to forge
his fathers parting charge to him anc
to prepare another trick for Little
Brother
"Miltl MiltN' he called. They're
waiting for your
As Milt knew that he was expected t.
help Luif draw Walt and Russ up out o
the well, he reluctantly left the kitchen
corner and his book and went out it
answer to the call.
Lutf stood amid the rubbish at th,
edge of the well leaning on the windlas
and looking down. Milton, as he drew
nigh, could hear the steady c'ick-cItch o
the sledge and drill below.
lie walked carefully around to the op
posite side of the well from Luif, anc
looking in. saw Russ and Walt still a
work, with no appearance OF stopping
You told me they were waiting" h
..il .,'rLo, ara not half ready vet