Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-01-24

4 sm afraid they have Uutgrown me in
way. as they have outgrown their
knec-trousers and their childish de-
pendence upon me. When they were
little lads, | truly think they could not
have slept without their goodnight
kisses to me, while now-but shall
only hurt your kind little heart with
this sort OF letter. OF course they love
me, Sadie, they must! And it is
only natural, / suppose, for boys,
as they grow up. to lose their loving
little ways. They are not like girls.
II had daughter, it might be differ
ent perhaps; but mother love is
strong, and | feel fairly starved some
times; even little Fritz forgets to
snuggle up to mammals knee as he
once did, and to pat her tired old
hands. 1t has made me feel like a
machine, though The duties once had
were heavy compared with the slight
demand upon my time now"
Then followed details as to the ar
rangements of the trip, the friend who
had volunteered TO keep house, and
expressions Of gladness that Sadie, too,
would be home. to brighten things up
for the dear big boys.
The dear big boys had grown rather
misty about the eyes. Sadie suddenly
refolded up the letter and caught up
her hat. There's Lou at the gate.
Goodbye, boys. Forgive me being
entirely frank with you. I'll see you
again about this business.
When she had gone the boys were
singularly silent "You will oblige
me, Jack, if you'll fall on me and
break all my bones!' Stanford said
slowly. Jack was 1.-THE biggest of the
big among the boys and weighed a
hundred and forty.
II could crawl through knot-hole. "
he replied.
mo you couldn't" Eugene said, and
though it was favorite joke, nobody
smiled.
Fritz, with his eleven years, his
dimple and his 'lithp" had disappeared
There was hot gingerbread again
when the tea-bell rang, and it seemed
to him less endurable than before.
What was the matter with the
boysP" Mrs Beman asked her hus-
band that night.
"It's never worth while to study the
motives Of the boy, my dear. The
goat, the spider, the kangaroo, are all
laid down in natural history, but the
boy"-and he wiped his hands with a
gesture full of meaning.
1T is on my mind. / don't care,'
Mrs. Beman reiterated. Whenever
she didn't care, she was taking things
seriously. II promised their good
mother that I'd see to those boys-the
house was minor matter in fact. ]
must investigate the trouble to-mor-
row, for trouble there is, am sure.
They hadn't even appetites. Think
what an anomaly, a boy without an
appetite! Mrs. Vance said hot ginger
bread would comfort them in any dis.
tress. Why, Arthur" and the little
lady looked quite despairing, "only
one Of them touched it, Stanford, and
he choked and left the table"
Trouble indeed! The boys pretended
to sleep at once that night. They had
nothing to say to each other. Each
supposed the others asleep. Each
tried to lie very quiet and each groaned
at the thought that the dear patient
mother had been deeply hurt at their
treatment Of her, when they would
have resented the slightest annoyance
caused her by any other. Love her
Each groaned harder at the reflection
that his own conduct was to blame fol
her doubt of it. Suddenly there was q
stir in the far corner. Fritz had
bounced out OF bed and down upon his
knees. There was dim light in the
room. Three boys might have beer
discerned raised upon their elbows
staring. Fritz at his prayers second
time!
'Shows his good sense" said Stan.
ford, in subdued whisper to Eugene
with whom he slept.
'Well, I've had that out" said Eu
gene. Ibid some good, too. No mat
ter how dull my head is. as sure as
get to my knees, the Lord sends M
some spick and span idea. I'm goinl
to sleep now. I'll divulge the plan to
morrow"
Sadie came again next day.
1--WE an idear' Eugene exclaimed
with some force.
'.Dew tell" and Sadie laughed, mer
rily. mot all by yourself, Eugenep"
well. no, not all by myself" an,
Eugene looked wisely at Stamford
ut came from orr hest Friend las
night. Let me tell you, Sadie. we ar
going to do an old German trick to begil
our new conduct toward mamma. W.
are going to give her real littl
demonstration as welcome home.
remember the time she got back from
that district mission convention an,
we were all playing ball on the lot
and didn't even come in to see her til
tea time. 1t wasn't because we didn'
love her; it was"
because we we're blind fools,