Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-09-15
HIS BOYS
How They Won a
Mother
By AGNES G. BROGAN

1t was a very bedlam Of screeching
sounds below which caused Mo1l1e to
swing wide the easement Of her study
window
What could it 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 A1ollte's reasons for
renting the place in the country.
Here, far away from city dtstrac-
lions, she might fittingly finish the
clever serial for which a publisher
waited. But now! From a rear door
Of the neighboring house came a rush
ing line Of boys, boys bareheaded, boys
shouting, leaping good naturally at
each others shoulders-fve Of them.
Indignantly Mollie descended to seek
explanation Of this Intrusion from her
housekeeper.
"Sure, they moved In last night"
said Nora, land divn q wink Of Shape
did have all night. No one lift to
look after them but an old red face of
a cook, and the father ridin' off this
mornin' In his automobeel"
Disconsolate1y Mollie wandered out
into her well kept garden, the spirit Of
writing destroyed. Mr.. Boftin, 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, and
quiet and all the desirable advantages
promised by that real estate man! Well,
we shall see!" And then her gaze fell
upon one small lonely brother seated
in a sunny corner of the old veranda.
Near to the touch Of his thin white
hand rested a wooden crutch, and pres
emily, bearing his fran weight upon it,
the little cripple swung himself out
into. the garden.
Poor chiIdr' sighed the girl in ever
ready sympathy and retreated thought
fully to her room again and her seat
before the easement window. From
this viewpoint she could see the lively
garden wall to reach the hOllyhOck row
winch DOrUereQ 1t.
IF they darer' she murmured, with
flaming cheeks. But the cherished
blossoms were just out Of reach Of the
grimy fingers; then, with appraised an
gelic face, the little crippled brother
leaned against nearby tree and, much
to the enjoyment of the others, delib-
erately lifted his wooden crutch and
CIV iCrI,+ oSr h.
holIyhOcks their brilliant blossoms.
"OhH' cried MOIlie, and "Ohr' again,
and rushed down to deal with the of
fender. 1t was necessary to make the
circuit Of the great house, which had
been empty yesterday, and to knock
loudly at the close fastened door.
When this was opened the red faced
cook confronted her, and Mollie, point
ing toward the limping culprit, asked,
still a little excitedly, if the boys
mother was there and if she might see
her.
Tins mother?" asked the cook;
then she stared curiously at the girl
why, Tins mothers in the hospital,
havin' an operation"
Again MolHe experienced the same
helpless sensation which had come
over her at sight Of Tim upon the
veranda, the little crutch close at hand
Il did not know" she said. 81 am
sorry. Perhaps you could-could keeI
the child from being so mischievous
He's ruined my choice flowers. He
has been spoiled no doubt" she added
1eniently, left to grow up UNPUBLISHED
because Of his-weakness. If his ia
ther"-
The woman interrupted with 6
coarse laugh. "Spoiled?" she Knocked
''Unpunished? Tim, come here"
Quite cheerfully the little fellow
obeyed Quickly the woman's rough
fingers, which could also be gentle
rolled back the lads white waist
"There," she pointed-"there's welts
there's marks where he's been pun
ished."
mop she cried protestingly. "Surel,
no father could be brute like thatr
But Tim exhibited his scars proud.
as scars of battle. "Sure," he said
1--WE been nckedp'
Then Mollie's anger turned to pity
''You poor little thing!" she cried
"They did not know how to teach you
Come with.me, Tim, and let me tel
you about the flowers.
you see," she explained as he hot
bled along at her side, they were jus
little seeds at first, planted in an empt
garden. And the. sun came along an
did its warming work, then the rail-
and the wind, and-the spring. Th
little seeds had a hard, brave fight c
It; but, after all, the green sprouts cam
peeping above ground, then the stalk
and after, oh, ever SO long a time, tn
green tiny leaves, next the buds III
folded slowly, slowly and them
The boys eyes widened expectantl,
'Then," finished Mollie, "came tn
fowers-the wonderful, glorious flow
IJor UOico foil cadIu HApd in