The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-26
SIX TO ONE.

"six great, strapping boys, and never
girl among 'em'" says old Martha Graz
with look full Of exclamation points an
o half smothered sigh Of what tried to b
resignation.
For my own part have no objection I
boys, On the contrary, rather like them
But must say like them diluted. 4
family q unwitigated boys Is, think
with Martha Graf, rather formidable.
Must make sight Of work, Patty,
says Marthas crohy.
'Sighti Laws me, from morning I'll
night it's tops and kites and marble
a.rollin around on tho aoor and a trippii
Of me up, apd strings snarlin and lookii
glasses a breakin, with balls and boxii
gloves and-laws me. I'd rather have Oh
care q 20 girls than them six boys''
What on airth, then, makes you sta,
there' Why don't you go somewhere else
There's places enough would bc glad I,
get you, ana We oil know Martha Ora,
amt boholdin to nobody, neither"
''Loaves Leave Miss London, with then
ar six boys, to her own destruction Sh
wouldn't live month. She amt no NOR
fit to take care on en- than your Geordle. ;
mo reason why you should slave your
self out for 'em. Why didn't she brin,
EN- up betteri'
"Lud a massyw fred up old Martha
what DO you a-talkin about, Name,
Smith, There ain't no better behave,
family In the world, don't care wher
they be. Miss London amt never had IL,
health, and can't do for EN-, but she man
ages 'en like waxwork TIL amt ono o
'em but what minds her just as quick n
she speaks-same as they do their father
And they're just the most affectiones
crceturs you over sec. And Mr.. Fred hal
took the first salutery at college, and Dav,
expects to get the medal, and the ain
one but what's bright as button. Sure
they's noisy, and theys boisterous ant
sights o. trouble, but should like TO know
| what boys amt that's with the name o
boys wouldn't have such white livcret
things as Miss Jameses boys, and I don
leave Miss Londons till I'm turned out
doors neck and heels"
That is the way good old Martha Ora,
stood mp for her darlings
Now, 1t so happened that very nearly
the same moment, pleasant room in Mr.
London's house was chattering full Z
these very boys That Martha was talkinf
about. was going to call 1t tho parlur
but 1t was not the parlpr-it was ma
room" Ma" being almost an invalid
sat q greater part of the timo in her room
and In consequence everybody else sat Il
her room when any sitting was going on.
DO you think girls arc goodcr tina
boys papa'" asked Basil seriously
"Softer and lighter than boys and easic
to handle" answered papa, quite rs SER
ously,
There ought to be one girl in fam
ily," interposed Fred, who, he ing jus
taken "salutery, was supposed to
capable Of prunouncing n final decision q
any subject whatever. IAN boys and
girls Is bore.
II guess we've got girl now, spok
/ up Young Roderic. II guess mamma
us good as girl"
Now, ma, say, said Dave "dort yol
wish ono of us was q girlf'
(which one could l spare, wonder'"
''Oh we'll, Moore is 10 He'd be jus,
the right age for me, )" exclaimed Fred.
Catch mol" cried Moore. Basil now
might be q girl He likes to sit in people,
laps and DO babied That's what girl,
like Wen mako him up into girl"
"No, won't be girl" shouted Basil
"1Icn Dumlcy's n girl "
Basil had very limited views Of woman
hood. Hon Dumley stood for the sex. II,
knew that he hated Hen Dumley, and HI
did not mean to DO put into any class t.
which she belonged.
"Yes you will be girl, /" said Fred
who loved to tease him. you wear dresser
now, and it'll come all right"
"Well, I am not going TO be girl, ant
I'm going to wear jacket next spring
amt /, mar
''If it doesn't rain"
But don't you want to be a girl ant
have a doll to play with and beau t,
come and sec your
I'D rather go a-courtin," said Basi
obviously. A gay laugh followed this re
! joinder, and
/ About six weeks afterward there cam
to Mrs. London's ears u tale of sorrow-o
shipwrcck and suffering and death. Beau
ty and youth and hope md life went dow
j into tho angry waters. Father and moth
] er, brother and sister, friend aud acquaint
] ancc-tho sea spared them not-tho wrath
/ full, ravonous sea. But one little human
/ blossom--one tiny, frail life-onc 9 year
/ old girl baby, found her ark In the arm
of n brond shquldercd negro sailor, wa
borne through the jaws of DEATH ant
4 smiled from her blue eyes straight out int
the sunshine, just as happily ms If fathe
! and mother were not torn from her for
ever.
! 1t WINS known that Mrs London wa
fond Of little girls and had none OF he
own. Would she mother this poor wHif
J The child's family We're not yet discoy
I, cred, but great efforts were making. ]
was evident that che was gently born, bu
j. months might elapse before she coul
r be restored to friends. Meanwhile sh
ought to DO tenderly cared for, and i
:. case her family should not be found
| was desirable that she should be wit
those who would cherish her as their own
D Sho could not be given up to public chal
: ity. The pity which her sad fate excite
!. was too great for that. So tho littl
j. stranger was laid In Mrs Londons lar
and tho father and the six boys came an
! looked upon her, What did they see tina
. stirred their hearts So hushed their ring
/ ing voices Into silence and brought
d dampness to their eyes: Only u shy
t sturdy face, half afraid half repellent-
! only littlo fat hands and dimplcd arms
, only baby girl, swept away from father
U arms and mothers hosom-swcpt up by
, pitilrss sea upon tho bleak shores Of
:. stranger world, an orphan and alone BIT
r when Mrs London said in low voic,
well, papa what do you sayt" Roder
answered quickly:
II say, let's have her F"
, rs 1t n votct asked papa.
! "Sho's too young to be Of any use