Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-29
THE TRIALS OF BOYHOOD

This freckled-faced, barefooted boy of
ten was on guard, as 1t were. He sat the
other afternoon on the steps of dingy
frame house in South Washington, and his
roly-poly two-year-old brother played ele-
phantinely around him. When the little
chap grew a-weary of pulling up grass and
throwing the same at imaginary enemies,
he'd walk up to his big brother and dig
his chubby little fists into his guardian
face. Then his guardian would square off
and pretend to box with the toddler, and
then run away from him and hide behind
tree, and play tag and hi-spy with him, and
when the little chap began to whimper
over some purely imaginary wrong he'd
pick him up and comfort him. A couple
of boys of the big brothers age, with
towel-wrapped bundles under their arms,
passed by the front gate.
Hey, Butch, goin' in swimmin' with us?"
one of them stopped and asked the freckle-
faced guardian of the fodder.
cant; got t take care o de kid; maws
down town." was the boy-nurses mourn
full reply There was an expression of
longing in his eyes as he watched the re-
treating forms of the two river-bound
boys He swung his infant charge on the
gate for while, and then two more of
his boy chums came along and stopped.
We're goin' rowin in de skift, Butch;
comm 'long?" one of them asked.
Mickey"
Hey. Butch wy don't youse wear
apron?' asked the other boy, getting him
self into position for sprint, and when
Butch made for the gate he sprinted,
followed by his companion.
The boy went to the back yard and re-
turned with piece of rope, wherewith he
fitted up swing, one end attached to the
fence and the other to wasting tree in
the front yard, for his little brother. He
was swinging the toddler and humming
a
the next block came along. She poked
her head over the top of the gate and
grinned at the boy-nurse.
"Girly-girly- girly- girly,' she said, stick
ing her tongue out at him
&c wan an mind yer bisness,'' said the
boy looking Inundated at that.
Want t borry my dollie?' asked the
little girl, sticking her tongue out at him
again, and when he made a dive for the
fence she ran down the street, heaving
back the "Giry- grly!' taunt at him.
The boy had his little brother on his
lap, pla ying "patty-cake" with him, when
another little girl, with her two plaits of
hair done up in cottony red ribbons, passed
by. The boys face flushed red as the
little girls ribbons when he caught her
eye and saw that she was smiling con-
temptuously and turning up her tip-tilted
little nose at him. Obviously, she was the
one and only young woman in the world
for Butch" She looked back at him and
grinned scornfully several times, as she
swished down the street, and the boy looked
very unhappy.
Makes me feel like t'irty skents," he
nuttered.
Two boys, each carrying fishing tackle
and a can Of worms walked by.
Say, Butch, they's bully f1shin' now
down at TIL arsnal. Comm long wit us,
amt you? We got 'nough bait said one
of the boys to the toddler's guardian.
Have t pass t up t'day, felers,'' re-
piled Butch" "Maw's gone down t. Were
pop works t make him cough up some O
his wages SOS he won't blow tn bundle
fore he gifts home, an I'm mindin
Mickey"
cav. Yer stiff t. be always lookin after
that kid" said the other boy. IVY can't
you put him inside de house an come on?''
might hurt hisself." answered Butch"
Such a little tad. Mickey is, an he don't
know no bettern t fall off things. Sides,
Hawd club de lid off me + she come home
an found me skinned OUT
The two boys with the fishing tackle went
their way, and then three more just like
them came along One of them had a big
trap with three rats in it, and the other
two were hanging on to bat-eared bull
terrier pup. They all halted when they saw
Butch in his front yard
Come on down t de lot an see de pup
nail de rats, Butch" said the owner of
the pup to the bOy-nurse
"GWan an turn EN- loose right Were
you is said Butch for boy loves rat