Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-02-07
POOR MOTHER.
How Her Tormenting Boys Broke the
News ofTheir Lives 20 Her.

Ana Bro~p-cnieAgo TnbuDe Pnss story.
How. those sespegracss had worried
and tormented their poor mother from
the day Of their birth up TO the date
Of the events herein recorded. From
twenty seven year old Tom down TO
sixteen year old Harry, each and ev.
cry one had in his own chsract ristic
way worried and tormented the poor
woman till she was fain to declare
that boys didn't half pay for the irou-
Bile it took to raise them. The condi-
ton of the weather without was slushy
and melting The condition within
was somewhat similar, as Mrs. Beres
ford threatened TO melt into tears at
any moment. Tom, the Oldest, her
helper and standby, for her husband
had died when Harry was baby of
two WAS going TO marry. oh! it was
too awful to be true. Tom was a |
monster of ingrstitude to repay her
twenty seven years of toll and trouble
in this manner, moaned the good wo
man. utterly forgetting that from the
time he was sixteen years old that she
had depended on and deferred to him,
really making him head of the family.
All of the boys called him "Old Tom,'
30 dignifed and steady was he.
Toms father, John Beresford, of
the Wholesale firm of Beresford Bros,
was man of strictest integrity and
rare business talent. When he died
there was no reverses to meet, no
struggles for the boys. Nothing but
an honorable memory and honest
money.
Tom continued his college course
until twenty, when, from choice, he
left to learn the business with his un-
Gle Tom. Two years later Archie fol-
lowed his example, and white haired
Uncle Tom was wont to say proudly
that the old firm would not lose It's
name when he passed over to the ST.
lent majority.
But Mother Beresford could not be
thankful for her many mercies (as tho
boys laughingly called themselves)
this afternoon as she stood gazeing
down the street, now and then a tear
slowly rolling down Der 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,
,ho 81 tIot cha Il l,,it
have 80 much reason to be proud of
him, and then perhaps this other wo-
man wouldn't have hal him. And
she selfshly said to herself she wished
he had been refused. She had always
thought handsome, affectionate, teas
ing jimmie had been her favorite, but
now she surrey knew it was Tom.
And by the time the boys had entered
she was the most abject picture of
woe.
Now, Mother said Harry, what is
the use OF crying? Tom Is going
seven squares only, and you ought to
be glad you are going to have such
nice daughter.
Yes, mamma, put in Jim, you
know you are thankful your next is
going to be girl. Havn't you been
wishing for years you had a girl?
Why, poor mamma, you will only have
four sons left.
Jim, you dude, shut up, yelled
Frank. If it were only you the fam
lily might bear up we'll under the in
aiction.'
The boys were fond of calling jim
mie the dude, because of his hand
some proportion and elegant getup
generally, but it was misnomer. AL
ways jolly, always in trouble at school,
and up to the time he was eighteen al
ways in love with a dozen glls at a
time. All, but Jim could tell tale
since that time, and he could keep
secret, too.
Jim's was the truest heart of all,
Notwithstanding he was such scape-
grace, and his good natured teasing
went so far toward cheering Mrs
Beresford that she carried a smiling
face for dinner.
Archie. was little off, Harry said,
and asked him if he was going to mar
ry wife too. To which Archie
Grossly replied that he did not propose
to marry husband.
Mamma said the irrepressable.
don't you want brace of daughters.
Tom looked reprovingly at Harry,
and Jimmie blushed like girl, out of
pure sympathy 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 parlor. Tonight
most unaccountably the three eldest
were missing. Tom was disturbed to
think that mother should take it so
foolishly hard and went off to the
sanctum to think it over. He went so
quietly that no one missed him bat
Archie, who just as quietly followed
him.
There was the closest sympathy be-
tween these two brothers and poor Tom
feeling half guilty for worrying moth.
er 30, was just ready for Archie's con-
soling words.
You see, Arch, she is all that can