St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-03-08
HOW THE BOYS BROKE 1T TO
MOTHER.

dON HE BUYS BKOkE Ill III
MOTHER.
Mrs. Reresford had five boys And
boys they were.
How those scapegraces had worried
and tormented their poor mother from
the day of their birth up to the date o
the events herein recorded.
from twenty ySeven-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
1t took to raise them.
The condition of the weather without
was slu>hv a d melting. The condi,
ton within was very similar, as Mrs
Beresford threatened to melt into tears
at any moment Tom, the eldest, h +
helper and standby for her husband
had diei when Harry was baby of
two). was going to marry. Oh! it was
too awful to be true. Tom was mon
ster OF ingratitude to repay her twenty
seven y, ars of toll and trouble in this
manner, moaned this good lady, utterly
forgetting 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,n 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
IN ha l.,
for the boys. Nothing but an honora-
BILE memo.y and honest money.
Tom continued his college course un-
til twenty, when from choice he left to
learn the business with his Uncle Tom.
Two years la er 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 ma iority
But Mother Beresfor.l could not be
thankful for her many mercies (as the
boys laughingly called themse.ves) this
afternoon as she stood gazing down the
street, now an | then a 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 IOund 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, aflectionate, teasing Jimmie had
been her favorite, but now she surely
knew it was Tom. And by the tine the
boys had entered She was the most alb
ject picture of woe.
snow, mother" said Harry, s.what's
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"
"Yes, mamma, put in Jim, ..you
know you are thankful Your next is GO
ng to be a girl. Haven't you b en- wish
ng for years you had a girlo Why,
poor mamma, you will only have four
sons left"
.'Jim, you dude. shut up" yelled |
Frank. "If it were only YOU, the |
amily might bear up under the infic-
CON-"
The boys were fond of calling JIM
ME 1.-THE dude" because of his hand
ONE proportions and elegant get-up
but it was misnoiGer.
Always jolly, always in trouble at
chool and. up to the time he was eieh-
cen, always in love with half dozen
iris at time. All, but Jim could tell
|, tale since that time. but he could
,eep secret, too.
Inns xa-oS fba tr,,acf hoorf Of oil not |
he was such a scapegrace,
nd his good natured teasing went so
ar toward cheering Mrs. Beresford that
he carried a smiling face for dinner.
Archie was a little of, Harry said.
nd asked him if he was going to marry
wife, too. To. which Archie GROSSLY
that he did not propose to
marry husband.
Mamma" said the irrepressible,
don you want brace of daughters"
Tom looked reprovingly at Harry, and
Jimmie blushed like girl, out OF pure
for Tom, no doubt.
1t was custom in the Beresford
mans on that each evening before leav-
ng there should be an informal little
hat in the parlor. Tonight most un-
the .three eldest were miss
no. Tom was disturbed to think that |
mother should take it so foolishly hard.
md went off to the sanctum to think it
over. He went so quietly that no one
missed him but Archie, who just as
quietly followed him.
There was the closest sympathy be-
tween these brothers. and poor Tom,
feeling half guilty for worrying mother
so, was Just ready for Arches consol-
ing words.
"You see, Arch, she is oil that can be
desired in every way. and I love her
with my whole soul. am no boy OF I
might get over it. OF course, you don't
it, Arch but, to Toms
utter amazement. naughty, reticent
Archie Beresford dropped his head in
his hands and fairly groaned
"Oh! yes. do. Tom. 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
pne can tell. FIR the door Of the sane