Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-20
= NOBLE BOY.
He Thought a "Heap' of His Mother and
ess Was Willing to Help Her.

He Thought q "Heap" OF HIS Mother ana
- esa Was Willing to Help Her.
'.If Ethel's ma will let him off from
the dishes, why, he'll go. If she wants
him, why, he says he will stay at
home"
This was shouted in q hooking tone
to a group of boys who had gathered
on the street corner one Saturday morn
ing.
1t was greeted with jecrs and laugh
ter.
Before I'd let my mother. make such
q girl of mel" cried ono.
.'My mother wouldn't do such a
thing. She says a boys place is out of
doors, and not in the Kitchen" said an
other.
Chats just what my mother thinks"
cried a third, ''Why, she'd work her
fingers to the bone before she'd let me
touch q broom"
"Well," said q fourth boy, and one
who seemed to be the leader among
them, ''if Ed is going to be such a
milk-sop as to be satisfied with house.
work and baby-tending, VIC don't want
him along"
HE used to be the liveliest one
among u.s." remarked a sweet-faced
boy, rubbing his fingers through his
curly locks. IL wonder if we can't
bring him round"
.'Here he comes now," said the first
speaker; ''let's see what we can do
with him"
AS he spoke a bright-eyed, handsome
boy came around the corner wheeling q
baby-cart.
"Hello" he shouted, cheeriully. II
thought you'd be off by this time"
"We're waiting for you," answered
the leader. Come, Ed, take the baby
home. You're too good a fellow to be
toned down into a nurse-girl. Come
get your bicycle and come to the park"
"Come on, Ed" urged all the boys,
and one added: 81 want to try my
new wheeler against yours"
"Don't plague a fellow, boys"
laughed Ed; ''of course I'd go if 1
could"
"Pshaw, you can 60 if you want to,
can't you now? Your mother will
never say No if you ask her."
"That's So" said Ed; ''she'll let me
go if | only say the word"
''Well, then, what's to hinderg:"
Nothing to hinder you that | know
YOU'RE hindering us; now come
along, that's a good fellow"
"No; I've promised mother to wheel
the baby to the park. You 60 on your
way and I'll go on mine"
YOU'RE a silly fellow" said the ring
leader, as Ed pushed the cart through.
the crowd.
"You know better, jake" said Ed,
pleasantly, stopping again. "You're a
pretty AIR sort of a fellow; suppose 1
set the case fairly before you, and O
decide whether I'm right OF wrong.h
That's fair," shouted the BOYS.
''Let's hear the story" They ranged
themselves like SO many crows on the
fences Jake took his stand on a horse
block, and Ed stood between.
"You know what Il monstrous FAM
lily we have, boys he began. The BOYS
nodded. .:And you know We can't afford
to keep d girl. That's our misfortune,
NV Ou1 1iulh VAOtucr ana the plrlS
have more than they can do to Keep
things straight on ordinary occasions.
But, mind you, to day we have unex-
pected company. The chores are nv
special duty, Of course, but very often
when they are all done mother and the
girls are still peggging away, and | tell
you, boys, a fellow that will sit down
and twirl his thumbs while the women
folks are shaving themselves to death
may think himself pretty big, but | tell
you he is no man at all. l despise a bow
who would rather see his mother XIII
herself than touch a dish-cloth L don't
care one whit how much you BOYS laugh
at me or Ethel me. think a heap Of
my mother, l can tell you, and Pm
mighty proud to give her a lift OCCASION
ally. II you don't mind the kind of
fellow | am, why just keep your dis
lance. Now, Jake, am fright or wrongpn
Jake hesitated half a minute, and
the snatching his hat from his head.
shouted: 'Three cheers for Ed, he's
the biggest fellow among us yet!n and
most OF the boys joined in the shout
with a hearty good will.
"lhank you, boys" said Ed. blush-
ing to the roots OF his hair. don't Won
ever go back on me again, and I'm
promise to keep ever with any Of vo,
on the bicycle, for all my ~housework !"
sabbath Home.