The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-09
HOW THE BOYS BROKE 1T TO
MOTHER.

VIC uftf vi tAeiF DULn up TO the date OF
the events herein recorded.
From twenty-seven-year-old Tom
down to sixteen-year-old Harry, each
and every one had in his own charac-
teristic way worried and tormented the
poor woman till she was fain to declare
that boys didn't half pay for the trouble
it took to raise them
The condition of the weather without
was slushv aid melting. The condi-
ton within was very similar. as Mrs.
feresford threatened to melt into tears
at any moment. Tom, the eldest, her
helper and standby (for her husband
had died when Harry was baby of
t'So), WAS going to marry Oh! it was
too awful to be true Tom was mon
ster of ingratitude TO repay her twenty
seven years of toll and trouble in this
manner, moaned this good lady, utterly
forgetting that rom the time he was
sixteen years old she had depended on
and deferred to him, really making him
head Of the family All Gf the BOYS
called him ''Old Tom, so dignified and
steady was he.
Toms father, John Beresford, of the
Wholesale firm of Beres'ord Bros, was
a man of the strictest integrity and rare
business talent. When he died there
We're no reverses TO be met, no struggle
for the boys. Nothing but an honora-
bic memory and honest money.
Tom continued his college course I'M
tt twenty, when from choice he left to
learn the business with his Uncle Tom.
Two years la e. Archie followed his ex-
ample, and white-haired Uncle Tom was
went to say proudly that the old firm
would not lose its name when he passed
over to the silent majority.
But Mother BeresfOrd could not be
| thankful for her many mercies Gas the
boys laughingly called themselves) this
afternoon as she stood gazing down the
street, now ana then tear Slowly roll
ing down her cheeks She groaned as
the subject of her thoughts cane into
view followed by the other four. She
was tound to confess that Tom was
worthy of any woman's love, and she
almost wished that she didn't have so
much reason to be proud of him, and
then perhaps this other woman wouldn't
have had him. And she selfishly said
to herself she wished he had been re-
fused. She had always thought hand
some, afl'ectionate, teasing Jimmie had
been her favorite, but now she surely
knew it was Tom. And by the time the
boys had entered she was the most alb
ject picture of woe.
"Now. mother" said Harry, what
the use of crying? Toms only going
seven squares away, and you ought to
be glad you are going to have such a
nee daughter. u"
Eyes, mamma, put in Jim, you
know you are thankful your next is go
ing to be girl. Haven't you been wish
ing for years you had a girl? Why,
poor mamma, you viii only have four
sons left. -
Jim, you dude, shut up" yelled
Frank. IF it were only YOU, the
family might bear up under the inhic-
tom
} The boys were fond of calling jim.
mic "the dude because of his hand.
some proportions and elegant get-ur
; generally. but it was Il misnomer
Always Jolly, always in trouble al
t school and. up to the time he was eigh
teen, always in love with half a dozeI
girls at time. All, but Jim could tel
e q tale since that time, but he coult
:; keep a secret, too.
u ,Jfm's was the truest heart of all, not
d withstanding he was such a scapegrace
| and his good natured teasing went 81
far toward cheering Mrs. Beresford tina
v she carried smiling face for dinner.
Archie was q little off, Harry said
- and asked him if he was going to MARI,
n r wife, too. 70 which Archie crossl,
If responded that he did not propose t,
Il marry a husband
: Mamma" said the irrepressble
lie don't YOU want a brace of daughters?'
e Tom looked reprovingly at Harry, an
Jimmie blushed like girl, out of pur
sympathy for Tom, no doubt.
1t was custom in the Beresfor
mans on that each evening before leay
ing there should be an informal littl
chat in the parlor Tonight most III
accountably the three eldest were miss
- inc. Tom was disturbed to think tha
in mother should take it so foolishly hare
A, and went off to the sanctum to think
ne n, over. He went so quietly that no on
he missed him but Archie, who Just 8
IN quietly followed him.
There was the closest sympathy b(
tween these brothers, and poor Ton
feeling half guilty for ing motht
so, was Just ready for Archie's conso
inc words.
s'You see, Arch, she is all that can |
&c desired in every way, and 1 love he
en- with my whole soul am no boy Or
might get over it. Of course, you don
understand it, Arch but, to Tom
utter amazement, naughty, reticel
Archie ReresfOrd dropped his head
mis- hands and fairly groaned.
ooh! yes, do, Tom. understar
}. you perfectly. I am even initiated OF
degree further, for love girl and 81
doesn't love me-
in What more might have followed I
n, one can tell, for the door of the san
es tum opened to admit Jim. who Dire
back as he sad: "Oh, l say, you fl
, lows. didn't know you were here"
ct Jim always said he was an odd OF
, in the family. No chum but mothe
ct. he used to say when little, as Tom a.
rs. Archie naturally went together, and t
two youngest paired off.
Something in Jim's distressed ia
made the BOYS urge him to come j
l. He did so. and took seatbetween the
ire on the sofa and begged that they won
of continue the ''flow of conversation
rec which his untimely presence had init
xed rupted, adding that Archie looked
ar though he was in love too.
M M "And so am bitterly said Arch
n NY, "Oh Lord!' shouted jim, I'm tht
as too" and franticaly grasped both
his brothers in his arms.
Jim insisted Tom, mo nonser
= fer once. Do let go.
90 Nonsense! | am in dead earne
Do Have been for three years, and Lc
~ knows how am going to break
I'm gently to mother" And the swt
streamed from inns face. ''Boys, lie
go in body and storm the castle. ,
''lhe girls breaking with me I
= saved me the trouble of breaking it
~ mother, bitterly replied Archie, IS
z | does not love me any m ore >