The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-03-29
THE BOYS BROKE 1T TO
MOTHER.

MIS- Beresford had five boys. And
ys they were.
How those scapegraces had worried
20 tormented their poor mother from
e day of their birth up to the date of
Ie events herein recorded.
from twenty -seven-year-old Tom
own to sixteen-year-old Harry, each
40 every one had in his own charac-
arlstic way worried and tormented the
DOR woman till she was. fain to declare
bat boys>didn't half pay for the trouble
took to raise them.
The condition of the weather without
yas slnshy and melting. The condi-
ION within was very. similar, as Mrs.
3eresford threatened to melt into tears
i any moment. Tom, the eldest, her
leAper and standby (for her husband
lad died when Harry was baby of
Wo), was going to marry. On! it was
100 awful to be true. Tom was mon
ter of ingratitude to repay her twenty
seven years of toll and trouble in this
manner, moaned this good lady, utterly
'orgetting that from the time he was
sixteen years old she had depended on
and deferred to him, really making him
head of the family. All of the boys
called him ''Old Tom, so dignifed and
steady was he.
Toms father, John Beresford, of the
Wholesale firm of Beresford Bros, was
man of the strictest integrity and rare
business talent. When he died there
we're no reFerses to be met, no struggle
lor the boys. Nothing but an honora-
sie memory and honest money.
Tom continued his college course I'M
ntwenty, when from choice he left to
earn the business with his Uncle Tom.
Wo years la er Archie followed his ex-
nple, and white-haired Uncle Tom was
ont to say proudly that the old firm
opid not lose its name when he passed
er to the silent majority.
But Mother Beresford could not be
knkful for her many mercies Gas the
IS laughingly called themselyes) this
ernoon as she stood gazing down the
Jet, now and then tear Slowly roll
down her cheeks. She groaned as
subject of her thoughts came into
N followed-b the other four. She
tound 10 confess that Tom was
thy of any woman's love, and she
pst wished that she didn't have so
III reason to be proud of him, and
perhaps this other woman wouldn't
had him. And she selfishly said
erself she wished he had been re-
d. She had always thought hand
B.. aiectionate, teasing Jimmie had
her favorite, but now she surely
n it was Tom. And by the time the
had entered she was the most alb
picture of woe. As
Vow, mother" said Harry, ''what's
use of cryingP Toms only going
b squares away, and you ought to
Had you are going to have such a
daughter"
les, mamma, put in Jim, .'you
you are thankful your next is GO
b be a girl. Haven'tyou bsen wish
Or years you had a girlp Why,
mamma, you will only have four
leftnn a4 r o
i'm, you dude, shut up,'' yelled
K. "If it were only you, the
" might bear up under the inflic-
boys were fond of calling JIM
1.-THE dude" because of his hand
proportions and elegant get-up
Hfally, but it was misnomer.
ays jolly, always in trouble at
81 and, up to the time he was eigh-
always in love with half dozen
at time. All, but Jim could tell
he since that time, but he could
a secret, too.
ms was the truest heart of all, not
hstandi g he was such scapegrace,
his good natured teasing went so
howard cheering Mrs. Beresford that
carried a smiling face for dinner.
richie was little off, Harry said,
asked him if he was going to marry
Nife, too. To which Archie GROSSLY
sponded that he did not propose to
6fry husband.
Mamma" said the irrepressible,
lone you want brace of daughtersp''
Tom looked reproVingly at Harry, and
lnhmie blushed like a girl, out of pure
pathy for Tom, no doubt.
twas custom in the Beresford
on that each evening before leav-
here should be an informal little
ID the parlor Tonight most un-
antably the three eldest were miss
kTom was disturbed to think that
er should take it so foolishly hard.
vent off to the sanctum to think it
He went SO quietly that no one
d him but Archie, who Just as
n followed him.
re was the closest sympathy be-
these brothers, and poor Tom,
half guilty for worrying mother