The Portland daily press., 1894-10-04
SIX TO ONE.

''Six great strapping boys, and never a
girl among 'em?" says old Martha Gray,
with look full of exclamation points and
a half smothered sigh of what tried to be
resignation.
For my own part have no objection to
boys On the contrary, I rather like them.
But must say I like them diluted. A
family of unmitigated boys is, think,
with Martha Gray, rather formidable.
"Must make a sight of work, Patty, !"
says Martha's crony.
''Sight! Laws me, from morning till
night it's tops and kites and marbles
a-rollin around on the floor and trippin
of me up, and strings snarlin and lookin
glasses a breakin, with balls and boxin
gloves and-laws me, I'd rather have the
care O. 20 girls than them six boysE'
What on airth, then, makes you stay
there? Why don't you go somewhere elses
There's places enough would be glad to
get you, and we all know Martha Gray
amt beholdin to nobody, neither.
Leave? Leave Miss London, with them
or six boys, to her own destruction? She
wouldn' live month. She amt no more
Git to take care on 'em than your Geordie. !"
''No reason why you should slave your
self out for 'em. Why didn't she bring
EN- up better?"
s'Lud massy!" fired up old Martha.
''What be you a-talkin about, Nancy
Smith? There amt no better behaved
family in the world, don't care where
they be. Miss London amt never had no
health, and can't do for 'en, but she man.
ages 'em like waxwork. TIL amt one of
'em but what minds her just as quick as
she speaks-same as they do their father.
And they're just the most affectionest
creeturs you ever see. And Mr.. Fred has
took the first salutery at college, and Dave
expects to get the medal, and the ain t
one but what's bright as a button. Sure,
they's noisy, and they's boisterous and
sights o. trouble, but should like to know
what boys amt that's with the name o.
boys. I wouldn't have such white livered
things as Miss Jameses boys, and 1 don't
leave Miss Sondon's till I'm turned out
doors neck and heels. y
That is the way good old Martha Gray
stood up for her darlings.
Now, it SO happened that very nearly at
the same moment pleasant room in Mr..
London's house was chattering full of
these very boys that Martha was talking
about. 1 was going to call it the parlor,
but it was not the parlor-it was s'ma's
ROOM INA" 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
'sDo you think girls are gooder than
boys, papa?" asked Basil seriously.
s'Softer and lighter than boys and easier
to handle,'' answered papa, quite as seri-
ously.
There ought to be one girl in fam
ily,' interposed Fred, who, having just
taken 'salutery, was supposed to be
capable of pronouncing final decision on
any subject whatever 'sAll boys and nc
girls is bore"
up young Roderic. 81 guess mamma is
as good as girl. -
Now, ma, say, said Dave, don't you
wish one of us was girl!"
(which one could I spare, I wonder?'
s'Oh, we'll, Moore is 16. He'd be just
the right age for me, exclaimed Fred.
ssCatch mel" cried Moore. Basil now
might be a girl He likes to sit in peoples
laps and be babied. That's what girls
like Well make him up into girl"
"No, I won't be girl" shouted Basil
stHen Dumley's a girl"
Basil had very limitsd views of woman
hood Hen Dumley stood for the sex. HI
knew that he hated Hen Dumley, and h
did not mean to be put into any class tx
which she belonged.
Eyes you will be girl" said Fred
who loved to tease him. ''You wear dresses
now, and it'll come all right. -