Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-04-05
POOR MOTHER.

Mrs. Beresford had five boys. And boys
| they were.
How those scapegraccs had worried
and tormented their poor mother from the
day of their birth up to the date of the
events here recorded. From twenty-seven-
year-old Tom down to sixteen-year-old
Harry, each and every one had in his own
characteristic way worried and tormented
the poor woman till she was fain to de-
clare that boys didn't half pay for the
trouble it took to raise them. The condi-
ton of the weather without was slushy
and melting. The condition within was
very similar, as Mrs. Beresford threaten
ed to melt into tears at any moment. Tom,
the eldest, 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 ingratitude to repay her twen-
ty-seven years of toll and trouble in this
manner, moaned the good lady, utterly
forgetting that from the time he was six
teen years old she had depended on and
deferred to him, really making him head
of the family. All of the boys called him
cold Tom," so dignificd and steady was
he.
Toms father, John Bcresford, of the
wholesale firm of Bcresford Bros, was
man of the strictest integrity and rare
business talent. When lie died there were
no rcverses to be met, no struggle 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 Uncle Tom.
Two years later Archie followed his ex-
ample, and wbite-haired Unclo 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
thankful for her many mercies (as the
boys laughingly called themselves) this
afternoon as she stood gazing down the
street, now and then q tear slowly rolling
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
woman would not have him. And she
selfisn.y said TO herself she wished hc had
been refused. She had always thought
handsome, a:fcctionate, 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 abjcct
picture of woe.
"Now, MOTHER said Harry, "what's
the use of crying? Toms only going
seven squares away, and you ought to BIC
glad you are going to have such nice
daughter"
eyes, mamma" put in Jim, "you
know you are thankful your next is going
to be girl. Haven't yeu been wishing
for years you had 4 girl? Why, poor
mamma, you will only have four sons
left.'
"Jim, you dude" shut up" yelled
Frank. ''lf it were only yoI the family
might bear up under the infliction."
The boys were fond Of calling Jimmie
"the dude," because of his handsome pro
portions and elegant getup generally;
but it was a misnomer. Always jolly,
always in trouble at school, and up to the
time he was eighteen always in love with
half dozen girls at q time. All, but
Jimmie could tell tale since that time,
but he could keep a secret, too.
Jim's was the truest heart Of all, not
withstanding lie was, such scapegrace,
and his good natured teasing went so far
toward cheering Mrs. Beiesford that she
carried n smiling face for dinner.
Archie was little off, Harry said, and
asked him if he was going to marry wife
too, to which Archie Grossly responded
that he didn't propose to marry husband.
Mamma said the irrepressible,
''don t you want brace Of daaghters:"
Tom looked reproyingly at Harry, and
Jimmie blushed ike a girl, out Of pure
sympathy for Tom, no doubt. .,,..,,
1t was custom in the Beresford man
sion that each evening before leaving
there should be an informal little chat in
the parlor. Tonight most unaccount-
ably, the three eldest were missing. Tom
was disturbed to think mother shonld
take 1t so foolishly hard, and went of to
the sanctuIn to think it oyer" lie went
out 50 quietly that 10 one missed Ilim but