Morris tribune., 1897-03-31
HER FIVE BOYS.
BY ANNIE HAMILTON DoNNELL.

eff one of them was only a girlp'
Mrs. Beck said, open commiseration
in her voice.
Little Mrs. Hiram Ferris laughed.
cone Of my boys2" she said, "Oh, ]
! couldn't spare single one-dear me,
nor
'.Well, then, If you only had girl,
too, she'd be such a help to you. Why,
couldn't get along at all withoutmy
'Tasia.'
"Oh, we'll, | don't need any more
helping, so it's all right" Mrs. Fer
ris answered, cheerfully.
If there had ever been a hunger in
her mother heart for little daugh-
ter's head among the boys tollsled
curls that had taken their turns at
lying on her arm-Mrs. Ferris was
the only one who knew it.
Il don't need any more helping"
she repeated, Il can get alongfamous-
ly as long as I have sonshineround
mep'
Her callers rocker stopped rocking
suddenly, with little jolt that dis
turbcd the expression Of amazement
on Mrs. Beck's plump face.
"You don't need helpin', Emme-
line Ferris! With six men-folks to
do for, and a great house to keep,
and butter and cheese to make!-are
you losin' your senses?"
'Look at me and see," Mrs. Ferris
laughed. 'FDo l look crazy? And do
/ look as if l was worked to death ?"
''N-no, you don't, and that's the
funny part Of it. You look five years
younger'n I do, and you're five or six
months older. | don't see for the life
of me why.'
perhaps it's the perpetual SON
shine live in, who knows?"
Underneath the little woman's
mirth lurked real tenderness and feel
ing. She found herself beginning to
wonder if poor LITTLE 'Tasia Beck
hadn't sometimes wished she was a
son instead of daughter. Poor,
stoop-shouldered, tired 'Tasia.
Tell me how on earth do you man
age it, Emmeline, do-you, with
all of the drudgery to do your
self, and six men to see to
and lookin' as chirp as a cricket! Why,
there's only three men-folks to our
house, and 'Tasia to help'me, and !
declare | feel as old as the everlastin'
hills the whole timep,
The rocker took up its jolting
creak again. Mrs. Beck's mouth cor
ners dropped dejectedly, and plain
tive wall ran through her words.
''But my six men-folks see to me.
[ guess that's the only secret there is
to it," little Mrs. Ferris said, quietly,
the tiniest flush of pride creeping
over her face.
How"
The caller shot out the single word
in amazed unbelief. She had be
iieved so long that women-folks' chief
mission was to "see to" their men
folks. It was quite jog to turn the
tables round that way.
well, I'll tell you all about it, but
you must cross your heart and hope
to never divulge the secret. ! don't
believe the boys would care, but ! do.
I've been boarding it up hngging it
up-to myself to save the boys feel
ings, srlpposing they should care.
Boys don't relish being called girl
boys and 'apron-string boys, and
mine shan't either! If you tell, it's
at the peril Of your life"
Though she laughed, her small,
square chin set itself determinedly.
well, I'm not likely to tell yet, !"
laughed back Mrs. Beck, looking mys-
titled
on say / ought to have daugh-
ter" Mrs. Ferris went on, why, bless
you, haven't I five Of ZEN, to all in
tents and purposes? Five Of the
handiest ones, too, this side Of the
north pole! Guess who washed my
dinner dishes!"
sIsupposc the boys did, considerin'
the way you look. But ] don't want
any boys putterin' round my kitch-
emf
Mrs, Ferris Strengthened her short
figure impressively.
eyes, Bob washed EN-" she said,
firmly. ''That's his part Of the work.
He doesn't like it, Of coursewho
does?-but he does it as well as / can
or you could she added, with
laughingdefance.
"Ted sweeps-this week and
Royal makes the beds
sWha-at?"
"Royal makes the beds this week.
They'd take the prize at "a county fair.