Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-10-05
THE BABY THAT RULED.
BY GAIL HAMILTON.

''Six great strapping boys, and,
never girl among emp" says old
Martha Gray, with look full of cx-
clamation points and half smothered
sigh of what tried to be resignation.
For my own part 1 have no objec-
ton to boys; on the contrary rather
like them But must say l like
them diluted. A family of unmiti-
gated boys is, think with Martha
Gray, rather formidable.
"ATust make sight Of work, Patty,
says Martha's crony.
Sights Laws mel from morning
till night it's tops and kites and mar
bles a rollin, round on the floor, and
trippin' of me up; and strings a
snarlin' and lookin' glasses a breakin'
with balls, and boxin' gloves, and
laws me! I'd rather have the care o
twenty girls than them six boys"
"What on airth, then, makes you
stay there? Why don't you go some
where else? 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
tn m are six boys, to her own de-
struetion? She wouldn't live a month,
She amt no more fit to take care on
'em than your Geordie."
"No reason why you should slave
yourself out for 'em. Why didn't
she bring 'em up better?"
''Lud-a-massy !" fired up old Mar
tha, what be you talkin' about
I ''.ey Smitltfivv Nv - - ,ain't.na hon1'ff
Faeafe' awisef59 they be. Miss London
amt never had no health, and can't
do for EN-, but she manages EN- like
wax work. 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 sec. And Mr.. Fred
has took the first salutery at college,
and Dave expects to get the medal,
and the amt one but what's bright as
a button. Sure, they's noisy and
they's boisterous and sights O. trouble,
but l should like to know what boys
ai9't that's wuth the name O boys l
wouldn't have such white-liyered
things as Miss Jameses' boys, and
don't leave Miss London's till I'm
turned outdoors, neck and heels
That is the way good old Martha
Gray stood up for her darlings.
Now, it 50 happened that very near
ly at the same moment, a pleasant
room in Mr.. London's house was
chattering full of these very boys that
Martha was talking about l was GO
ing to call it the parlor; but it was
not the parlor-it was MAS ROOM
"Ma" being almost an invalid, sat a
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, Sc
riously.
"Softer and lighter than boys and
easier to handle" answered papa,
quite as seriously.
"There ought to be one girl in a
family" interposed Fred, who, hav-
ing just taken a ''salutery," was sup
posed to be capable of pronouncing
a final decision on any subject what
ever. "All boys and no girls is a
bore"
Il guess we've got a 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 girl?"
(Which one could spare, I Won
der?"
"Oh, we'll Moore is sixteen; he'd
be just the right age for me, cxcaim-
ed Fred.
"Catch mel" cried Moore. Basil
now might be girl; he likes to sit in
| peoples laps and be babied. That
what girls like. Well make him up
into a girl"
"No, won't be a girl, shouted
Basil. "Hen Dumley's girl.
Basil had very limited views of wo-
manhood, 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 be-
4 longed.
"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'm not going to be girl,
and I'm going to wear jacket next
spring, amt !, map"
"If it doesn't rain
| ''But don't you want to be a girl,