Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-05-06

NAONA> S~~o N>~J
of their birth up to the date of the events
herein recorded.
From 27-year-old Tom down to 16-year
old Harry, each and everyone had in his
own characteristic way worried and tor
mented 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
slushy and melting. The condition within
was very similar, as Mrs. Beresford threat
ened to melt into tears at any moment
Tom, the eldest, her helper and standby
flor her husband had died when Harry was
q baby of 81 was going to marry. Oh, it
was too awful to be true. Tom was a mons
ter of ingratitude to repay her twenty-seven
years Of toll and trouble in this manner,
moaned this good lady, utterly forgetting
that from the time he was 16 years old she
had depended on and deferred to him, real
ly making MIN head of the family. All of
The boys called him cold Tom,' so dignified
and steady was he.
Toms father, John Beresford, of the
wholesale firm of Beresford Bros, was
man of the strictest integrity and rare bust
ness talent. When he died there were no
reyerses to be met, no struggle for the boys.
Nothing but an honorable memory and hon
est money.
Tom continued his college course until 20,
when from choice he left to learn the bust
ness with his Uncle Tom. Two years later
Archie followed his example, and white
haired Uncle Tom was wont 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 thank
full for her many mercies Gas the boys laugh
ingly called themselves) this afternoon as
she stood gazing down the street, now and
then a tear slowly rolling down her cheeks.
She groaned as the subject of her thoughts
came into view followed by the other four
She was bound 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 wouldn't have had him. And she
selfishly said to herself she wished he had
been refused. She had always thought
handsome, affectionate, teasing Jimmie had
it was Tom. And by the time the boys had
entered she was the most abject picture of
woe.
ssNow, mother,'' said Harry, ''what's the
use of crying? Toms only going seven
squares away, and you ought to be glad
you arr gong to have such a nice daugh-
ter
eyes, mamma" put in Jim, you know
you are thankful your next is going to be a
girl Haven't you been wishing for years
you had girl? Why, poor mamma, you
will only have four sons left"
'.Jim, you dude, shut up" yelled Frank.
eff it we're only you the family might bear
up under the affection
The boys were fond Of calling Jimmie
''the dude,' because of his handsome pro-
portions and elegant get-up generally, but it
was misnomer. Always jolly, always in
trouble at school, and up to the time he was
is always in love with half dozen girls
at time. All, but Jim could tell tale
since that time, but he could keep secret
too.
Jim's was the truest heart of all, notwith-
standing he was such scapegrace, and his
good natured teasing went SO far toward
cheering Mrs. Berestord that she carried a
smiling face for dinner.
Archie was little off, Harry said, and
asked him if he was going to marry a wife
too. To which Archie Grossly responded
that he did not propose to marry a husband.
''Mamma," said the irrepressible, 'don t
you want brace of daughters ?''
Tom looked reprovingly at Harry, and
Jimmie blushed like girl, out of pure SYM
pathy for Tom, no doubt.
1t was custom in the Beresford mansion
that each evening before leaving there
should be an informal little chat in the par
lor. Tonight most unaccountably the three
elder were missing. Tom was disturbed to
think that mother should take it SO foolish
ly hard, and went off to the sanctum to
think it over. He went so quietly that no
one missed him but Archie who just as quiet
ly followed him.
There was the closest sympathy between
these brothers, and poor Tom, feeling half
guilty for worrying mother SO, was just
ready for Archie's consoling words.
'.You see, Arch, she is all that can be de-
sired i'll every way, and l love her with my
whole soul. I am no boy Or might get
over it. OF course, you don understand it,
Arch;' but, to Toms utter amazement,
naughty, reticent Archie Beresford dropped
his head in his hands and fairly groaned.
sfOh! yes do, Tom. l understand you
perfectly / am even initiated one degree
further, for l love a girl and she doesn't
love me-"
What more might have followed no one
can tell, for the door of the sanctum opened
to admit Jim, who drew back as he said:
sob, say, you fellows, didn't know you
were here"
Jim always said he was an odd one in the
family. No chum but mother, he used to
say when little, as Tom and Archie natural
ly went together, and the two youngest
paired off.
Something in Jim's distressed face made
the boys urge him to come in. He did SO,
and took seat just between them on the
sofa and begged that they would continue
the s'fow of conservation" which his un-
timely presence had interrupted, adding that
l. - Il. L. =.
"And SO l am, - bitterly said Archie.
ooh Lordp' shouted Jim, 81 am there
too" and Enthusiastically grasped both of his
brothers in his arms.
'sJirn," insisted Tom, ''nO nonsense for
once. Do let CO.
Nonsense! I am in dead earnest. Have
been for three years, and Lord knows how
am going to break it gently to mother"
And the sweat streamed from Jim's face.
sBoys, let's go in a body and storm the cas-
tle.''
"The girls breaking with me has saved
me the trouble of breaking it to mother,'-
bitterly replied Archie ''she Goes not love
me any more.
30, yes she does, Arch; we II make her."
And now that Jim's secret was confessed to
some one he grew SO light-hearted that the
boys suspected him of making game ofthem.
But Jim was in earnest and, as he told
them, had been for three years. Ever since
Nellie Brown, then pretty girl of Is, had
come to live across the way Jim's heart had |
been gone. At first he did not mind it much,
but as he didn't get over it he began to
wonder if she cared for him, and just three
Weeks ago he ended his suspense, and now
%, it " wasn't for mother-Jim would be
90 happyse
Come, my Sseloved brethren, we must |
,ear it like men. We must meet mother.
But, Jim, for heavens sa.ssa don't spring it
M her to night; she can't bear any more, p
md Tom led the way down to TIN parlor,
ust as Frank, who was growing mois, ike
lis father every day, was telling his motL q
low much he liked Toms finance. He de- +