Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16


good natured when she was ''clane" and
each offender was liable to have his ears
boxed with soapsudsy hands. Terence.
the Oldest boy, came first. He wore a pair
Of his mothers shoes, or rather pair that
had been given to his mother. Terence
was thirteen and almost as tall as his
mother, but when scrub day came he was al
meek as Paddy the nine-year-old. Mickey
was eleven and a half and Gerald ten.
After Paddy, who was a proud boy that
day at bearing the great Saint Patricks
name, came Norah and Molly and the
baby
Mrs. Finnigan pulled her pail OF dirty
soa psuds over under the end OF the table,
where she could find 1t If she wanted II
a gain carefully dried her ha nds on her blue
and-white checked apron, and looked about
her at the slowly drying floor with great
ga tisfaction.
Don't veg put a fut on tn fiure till veg see
a dhry spot as big as tn cook stove" she
cautioned her brood, as she disappeared in
to the sleeping room to put on her best
dress ana her green veil that had served on
several Saint Patrick's days, to go out to
see the parade that was to take place that
day instead OF the 18th Sunday.
Seven nairs OF ewes watched the door
close. and then looked for the biggest dry
spot on the floor
..It's III one in front OF tn stove" said
Mickey.
at amt" said Terence IT'S by the win
aer an saw II first.''
Mines bigger" still asserted Mickey.
mothers shoes kicked Mickey's shins so
yioiently that before he quite knew what he
was doing he was kicking back just as
hard. In turning, ais elbow dug in Geralds
ribs. ,whereat Gerald promptly boxed his
ears
Now PADDY didn't care a bit about the size
of the drv snot and he wasn't fond OF fight
ing unless II was absolutely necessary, so
he lust let the three bigger boys alone
,ho11t, ceraId Moved his esrs tao inst for
sxerciSaNand Thought of saint Patrick fight
inc all the snakes in the old country.
Terrence and Mickey and Gerald. lighting
topether forgot their mothers Injunction
about the size of the dry spot and rolled
70 tbe fioor in a bean.
n wasn't the fault OF the rtckety kitchen
,.h,. No indeadjt vasn't any ones fauIt.
,aoie, no, III, thrs h,s any ~, one ro,,ad ~,
.hara us nothing to balance the four chill
49, ~, thn Stber end 60 the table calmly
1;ftaa m two os ito legs and the fonr coast
cd an with more speed than grace.
Tba noor haby who Was three want
sn,ash into the nal, Of scrnb water Norab
Ga AJoII,, how,ad ouickIy ovar bar bead
and paddy turned two somersau1ts and
landed near the window.
MoJiy ana Norab nicked theuseIvaS I'm
o,icrly and naSdled o,,t of the room toward
The stars faiIowinp the three older, bovs
who seeing the damage done. Thought n
safar 70 he ont of the way when their
mntbar annsared
Sure didn:t do if - said Paddy to him
self as he Wicked M his little body from
-, ',iinrar,, Aonr q nd tnrpad 70 raScua tba
hnwiine hshv lust them mrs E,inniean
cama rusbins in.
..Tb. ssints da,iver usp she exclaimed
"Wbat,s this we've been dom Patrick
o'Eiannigan Einnieana I'll teacb VOC hot.
~, than 70 no u7astir, RI water In tbts
wav an. fripbtenin' tn. baby into high.
stry,asr, Ana sba seized noor Paddv and
cufra5 his ears soundly.
nDon,, Lot mo SEQ yez ap.ip I'll. DIV Va
little 10" imnr, She cried and cuftine and