The herald., 1894-12-17
SIX TO ONE.


girl among 'cm?" says old Martha Gray,
with look full of exclamation points and
half smothorod sigh Of what tried to be
resignation.
For my own part have no objection to
boys. On tho contrary rather like them,
But | must say l like them diluted. a
family of unmittgatcd boys is, l think,
with Martha Gray, rather formidable.
Must make n sight of work, Patty"
says Martha's crony.
Sight! Laws me, from morning till
night it's tops and kites and marbles
a-rolIin around on tho floor and trippin
of me up, and strings u snarlin and lookin
glasses n broakin, with balls and boxin
gloves and-laws me, I'd rather have the
care o. 20 girls than them six boys!''
'What on eirth, then, makes you stay
thcrr? Why don't you go somewhere elsef
There's places enough would DO glad to
get you and we all know Martha GRAY
amt beholdin to nobody, neither
'Leavcs Leave Miss London, with them
ar six boys, to her own destruction? She
wouldn't live month She AIM no moro
fit to take care ON em than your Geordic."
mo reason why you should slave your.
self out for 'cm. Why didn't she bring
'em up bctterY"
"Lud massy'' fired up old Martha.
"What ho you a-talkin about, Nancy
Smith? There amt no better behaved
family in tho world, l don't care wherc
they be. Miss London amt never had no
health, and can't do for 'em, but sho man.
ages 'cm like waxwork. TIL amt one of
'em bnt what minds her just as quick as
she speaks-same rs they do their father.
And they're just the most aflcctionest
creeturs you over sec. And Mr.. Fred has
took the first statutory at college, and Dave
expects to get the medal, and the aim
one but what 8 bright as button. Sure,
they's noisy, and they's bosterous and
sights O. trouble, but I should like to know
what boys amt that's wuth the name o.
boys. / wouldn't have such white liverod
things as Miss Jameses boys, and l don't
leave Miss I,,ndon's till I'm turned out
doors neck ard heels"
That is the way good old Martha Gray
stood up for her darlngs.
Now, it so happened that very nearly ct
the same moment, pleasant room in Mr..
London's house was chattering full Of
these very bors that Martha was talking
about. was going to call it the parlor,
but it was not the parlor-it was mas
ROOM" 'Ma" being almost an invalid,
sat greater part of the time in her room,
and in consequence everybody else sat in
her room when any sitting was going on.
''Do you think girls are gooder than
boys, papa?" asked Basil seriously.
sSofter and lighter than boys and easier
to handle" answered papa, quite as seri-
ously.
"There ought to bo one girl in fam
ily," interposed Fred, who, having just
taken "salutery, twas supposed to be
capable of pronouncing final decision on
any subject whatever. 'All boys and no
/ girls Is a bore. P"
II guess we've got q girl now" spoke
up young Roderic. II guess mamma is
as good as girl.''
Now, ma, say" said Dave, "don't you
wish one Of us was a girlf'
(which one could 1 spare, wonder"
'Oh, we'll, Moore is 16. He'd be just
the right age for me, exclaimed Fred.
Catch me!' cried Moore. Basil now
might be a girl. He likes to sit in peoples
laps and bo babied That's what girls
like. Well make him up into a girl
"No, won't be GIRL" shouted Basil.
"Hen Dumley's a girl.
Basil had very limited views of woman
hood. Hen Dumley stood for the sex. He
knew that he hated Hen Dumley, and he
did not mean to be put into any class to
which she belonged.
"Yes you will be a girl, said Fred,
who loved to tease him. "You wear dresses
now, and it'll come all right.
'Well, I am not going to be girl, and
I'm going to wear jacket next spring,
amt I, map
If it doesn't rain
"But don't you want to be a girl and
have doll to play with and a beau to
come and see you?'
s'I'd rather go a-courtin," said Basil
obviously. A gay laugh followed this re-
| joinder, and
About six weeks afterward there came
| to Mrs. Londons ears tale of sorrow--of
shipwreck and suffering and death. Beau
| ty and youth and hope and life went down
into the angry waters Father and moth
or, brother and sister, friend and acquaint-
ancc--the sea spared them not-the wrath
full ravenous sea. But one little human
blossoln-one tiny, frail lfe-ono 2-year-
old girl baby found her ark in the arms
of broad shouldcred negro sailor was
! borne through tho jaws of death" and
| smiled from her bluo eyes straight out into
the sunshine, just as happily as if father
| and mother were not torn from her for
ever.
1t was known that Mrs London was
fond of little girls and had none of hor
own Would she mother this poor waif2
The child's family were not yet discov-
cred, but great efforts wero making. 1t
was evident that she was gently born, but
! months might elapse before she could
be restored to friends. Meanwhile she
ought to be tenderly cared for, and in
case her family should not bo fonnd it
was desirable that she should be with
those who would cherish her as their own
She could not be given up to public char
| ity The pity which her sad fate excited
was too great for that. So tho little
stranger was laid in Mrs. London's lap
and tho father and the six boys came and
looked upon her. What did they sec that
stirscd their hearts so, hushed their ring
| ing voices into silence and brought II
damoness to their eyesp Only shy
sturdy face, half afraid, half rcpellcnt--
only little fat hands and dimpled arms
only baby girl, swept away from father 8
arms aad mothers bosom-swept up by a
pitilcss sea upon tho bleak shores of a
stranger world an orphan and alone. But
when Mrs. London said in low voice,
''Wcll papa, what do you sayf'' Roderio
] answered quickly:
II say, let's have her"
| SIS it a vute?' asked papa.
'Shes too young to be of any uso b,
me-" said Fred. appearing Indifferent, to
| gloss over the fact that he had been very
near crying, but it's too bad to send her