The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-29
HIS BOYS
How They Won a
Mother
By AGNES G. BROGAN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It was a very bedlam Of screeching
sounds below which caused Mollie to
swing wide the easement Of her study
window.
What could 1t mean, this riot of noise
in a house supposedly vacant? For
the owners assurance that the house
next to the bungalow was unoccupied
had been one of Mollie's reasons for
renting the place in the country.
Here. far away from city distrac-
tons, she might fittingly finish the
clever serial for which a publisher
waited. But now! From a rear door
Of the neighboring house came rush
ing line of boys. boys bareheaded. boys
shouting. leaping good naturally at
each others shoulders-five of them.
Indignantly Mollie descended to seek
explanation of this intrusion from her
houSekeeper.
Sure. they moved In last night,
said Nora. land divil wink Of Shape
did have all night. No one lift tO
look after them but an old red face OF
cook. and the father ridin' off this
mornin' in his automobeel."
Disconsolately Mollie wandered OUT
into her well kept garden, the spirit OF
writing destroyed Mr.. Boffin, the cat
came scampering wildly from his Gus
tomary seat on the garden wall, his
exit evidently FASTENED by well aimed
missile.
Dear me-" cried Miss Mollie, this
will never do, Peace. indeed, ant
quiet and all the desirable advantages
promised by that real estate man! Well
we shall see.' And then her gaze fel
upon one small lonely brother seated
in a sunny corner Of the old veranda
Near to the touch Of his thin whit,
hand rested wooden crutch, and pres
emily, bearing his frail weight upon II
the little cripple swung himself on
into the garden.
Poor child" sighed the girl in eve
ready sympathy and retreated thought
fully to her room again and her sea
before the easement window. From
this viewpoint she could see the livel
brothers vainly trying to climb he
garden wall to reach the hOllyhock ROY
which bordered 1t.
IF they dare" she murmured, witt
flaming cheeks. But the cherishe'
blossoms were just out Of reach Of tn
grimy fingers; then, with appraised an
gelic face, the little crippled brothe
leaned against nearby tree and. muc
to the enjoyment Of the others. DELFT
erately lifted his wooden crutch an
with straight aim knocked from tn
hollyhocks their brilliant blossoms.
''Oh!' cried Mollie. and "Oh! agail
and rushed down to deal with the o
fender. 1t was necessary to make tn
circuit of the great house, which ha
been empty yesterday, and to knoc
loudly at the close fastened doc
When this was opened the red face
cook confronted her, and Mollie. poin
ing toward the limping culprit. aske
still a little excitedly. II the boy
mother was there and II she might 81
her.
Tins mother?" asked the COO
then she stared curiously at the gil
"Why. Tins mothers in the hOspiti
havin' an operation"
Again Mollie experienced the san
helpless sensation which had con
over her at sight Of Tim upon Il
10 ho tph plc ut hO n
Il did not know" she said. II a
sorry. Perhaps you could-could ke
the child from being so mischievor
He's ruined my choice flowers.
has been spoiled no doubt" she add
leniently, left to grow up unpunish
because OF his-weakness. II his
ther"-
The woman interrupted with
coarse laugh. "SpoiledT she mocke
"Unpunished? Tim, come here"
Quite cheerfully the little fellC
Obeyed. Quickly the wOman's rou
fingers. which could also be gent
rolled back the lads white wal
There" she pointed-"there's wei
there's marks where he's been pu
ished"
Mollie drew back in horror. &c
nor' she cried protestingly. Sure
no father could be brute like thai
But Tim exhibited his scars proud
as scars of battle. Sure" he sa
1--WE been lickedr'
Then Molle's anger turned TO pi
you poor little thing!" she cri,
''They did not know how to teach Y,
Come with me, Tim, and let me
you about the flowers.
you See" she explained as he h,
bled along at her side, they were j
little seeds at first. planted in an emf
garden. And the sun came along a
did its warming work. then the IA
and the wind, and-the spring. I
little seeds had hard. brave fight
It: but, after all, the green sprouts ca
peeping above ground, then the stal
and after, oh. ever so long a time,
green tiny leaves, next the buds
folded slowly. slowly and then
The boys eyes widened expectan
Then" finished Nellie. came
fiowers-the wonderful, glorious q,
ers." Her voice fell sadly. And 4
thoughtless moment you killed tn
ALI I'll tell YOU" she added at
boys conscience stricken face. "l
may come over and gather all the q,
ers you want. but don't kill them"
The lad sank down upon the pc
step of Mollie's home, and his sn
eyes regarded her shrewdly. "Ss
he asked. latter all did you'll let