Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-04-07
HIS BOYS
How They Won a
Mother

By AGNES G. BROGAN

1t 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 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-
lions, she might fittingly finish the
clever serial for which publisher
waited. But nowl From q rear door
Of the neighborlng house came rush.
ing line Of boys, boys bareheaded, boys
shouting, leaping good naturally at
each others shoulders-flve 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
a cook, and the father ridin' of this
mornin' In his automObeel."
Dlsconsolately Mollie wandered out
into her well kept garden, the spirit of
writing destroyed. MI. Botfin, 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 dol Peace, indeed, and
quiet and all the desirable advantages
promised by that real estate mani Well,
we shall seev And then her gaze fell
upon one small lonely brother seated
In sunny corner of the old veranda.
Near to the touch of his thin white
hand rested wooden crutch, and pres
emily, bearing his frail weight upon 1t,
the little cripple swung himself out
into the garden.
Poor childP' 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
brothers vainly trying to climb her
garden wall to reach the hollyhock row
which bordered It.
IF they dareP she murmured, with
flaming cheeks But tho 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, DELHI
erately lifted his wooden crutch and
with straight aim knocked from the
hollyhocks their brilliant blossoms.
"OhP cried Mollle, and "Ohl" 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, II the boys
mother was there and If she might see
her.
"Tim's mother2' asked the cook;
then she stared curlously at the girl
"Why, Tins mothers in the hospital.
havln' an operation"
Again Mollie experienced the same
helpless sensation which had come
over her at sight Of Tim upon the
veranda, the little crutch close at hand.
81 did not know" she said. II am
sorry. Perhaps you could-could keep
the child from being so mlschievous.
He's ruined my choice flowers. He
has been spoiled no doubt" she added
leniently, cleft to grow up unpublished
because of his-weakness. II his IA
ther"-
The woman interrupted with a
coarse laugh. "SpoiledT' she Knocked.
"UnpunIshed? Tim, come herel"
Quite cheerfully the little fellow
obeyed Quickly the womans rough
fingers, which could also be gentle,
rolled back the lads white waist
"There," she polnted-"there's welts,
there's marks where he's been pun
ished."
Mollie drew back In horror. "Oh,
no" she cried protestingly Surely
no father could be brute like thatP'
But Tim exhibited his scars proudly
as scars Of battle. Sure" he said,
1--WE been lickedg'
Then Mollie's anger turned to pity.
"You poor little thingp she cried.
"They did not know how to teach you.
Come with me, Tim, and let me tell
you about the flowers.
you see" she explained as he hob
bled along at her side. they were just
little seeds at first, planted In an empty
garden. And the sun came along and
did its warming work, then the rain,
and the wind, and-the spring. The
little seeds had hard, brave fight OF
It; but, after all, the green sprouts came
peeping above ground, then the stalks,
and after, oh, ever so long time. the
green tiny leaves, next the buds un.
folded slowly, slowly and them
The boys eyes widened expectantly.
Then" finished Mollie. "came the
fowers-the wonderful, glorious flow.
ers." Her voice fell sadly. "And In a
thoughtless moment you killed them
ALL I'll tell you" she added at the
boys conscience stricken face. "You
may come over and gather all the flow.
ers you want, but don't kill them"
Tho lad sank down upon the porch
step Of Mollle's home, and his small
eyes regarded her shrewdly. Say"