Carl and the Cotton Gin

McGR

ar

ing,

gor waited

fully. "You never seem to come when you're

s,

where are you-that's what I want to know. You're the slowest creature on God's earth, I be

a good-humored

der-sized older one. Whatever his age, however, he could certainly boast a serene disposition, for his mother's caustic comments failed to ruffle his temper. Having heard them ever since babyhood he was quite accustomed to their acid tang; moreover, he had learned to gage the

y would happen; it always did when Mrs. McGregor rolled up her sleeves, and they were rolled up now, displayin

r was that she was not sociable, and if you were not sociable at Mulberry Court it meant you were lofty, uppish, considered yourself better than other folks. What it really meant, however, was t

able, the acme of all crimes at Mulberry Court. Of course she had not proclaimed her policy in so many words. No, indeed! Yet she might as well have done so for

circle who were wont to await her verdict on every newcomer to the district. "Proud and sn

O'Dowd the social dictator of the community? Had she ever been known to be wrong? With one accord M

pneumonia, and although the flock was a large one Julie was too genuine a mother to feel she could spare one out of her fold. Was not Joey the littlest of all, the pet of her household? All the motherhood in her revolted at the thought of losing him. Strangely enough until th

f anything he grew steadily worse. Motionless he lay in his crib, his great staring eyes giving forth no flicker of recognition. There was not much hope,

cording to general opinion the battle she was waging was a losing one. It was a terrible discovery. What should she do? She must do something. Wild-eyed she plunged into the hall, a v

rged victorious. Sickness, therefore, had no terrors for her. Instantly the mother in her read and interpreted the desperation in Julie's face and without a word she slipped through the open door into the room

stooped down

herself, and when she straightened up it was to meet

wringing her hands. "He is going

beneath the same roof, these were the first words

im?" the latter

animal Julie sti

ant to raise him up so he can breathe better." Then she added reassuringly, "I'd not give up if I were yo

ha

le for one thing, if you

lie turne

nd I've seen so many children pull through when they looked fit to die that I've l

baby's mother in a shaking voice, "but I've l

me into

"We all are apt to lose our nerve when we are worn out. I don't wo

omehow I couldn't leave Joey with 'em. Besides, how can

me to watch the baby while you curled up on the sofa and got a wink or two of sleep? I'll promise to call you should there be an atom of change. Do now! Be a sensible woman. And how would you feel about my giving the little chap a drop of medicine? A Scotch docto

up hope that anything in the world could do that. The reaction that c

children better than anything on earth. They're a precious lot of bother, there's no denying, and sometimes I get that impatient with one or the other of 'em I

d, smoothed his pillow, straightened the coverings that lay over him. It was amazing how quietly and deftly her hands moved. Even th

cGregor, "the baby is n

with eager surrender. "Do as you lik

etimes well not to leave a stone unturned. You might regret not having taken

ll be th

. She was gone and back again in a twink

've a dropper here. We'll see what a spoonful of this

oe

brightened and they now

rn. "I always liked the name of Joseph. Well, Joey boy,

the liquid betwe

bit, put on a fresh slip

won't

draught. He'll like the air and feel the b

thin an hour both Joey and his surr

p in that comforter and take a nap. Don't worry abo

hesi

have and I'm a hundred times better acquainted with 'em, too. Of course I know they have all they can do without taking o

se. Just now I have nothing more important to do than nurse this baby. It's my first job. So don't be worrying about my work. Luckily it is Saturday and Mary, Carl, and Timmie will look after th

impulsively on tha

ank you," murmu

is out you may be calling me a meddlesome old harridan. Wait and see what happens. I'm not one that sets much store by thanks

d the boon she craved, for as if by magic the baby began to mend that very night and before the we

as good as any doctor-better, for Joey might have died but for her. Should I go

Everywhere she went she sounded the praise of her neighbor; talked of her kindness, her wisdom, her unselfishness, until not only Mulberry Court, bu

. "She doesn't mean a thing in the world by it. Julie says she's sharp

nerous summary of her character. Other neighbors gained courage to cons

ame the slogan of Mulber

l away, she let it be known. Whatever she did had to be done with pitiless directness. Often her council was delivered through a crack in the door or even given through the door itself; and there were instance

d by his full name) all understood and worshipped their quick-tongued mother. Together with the rest of Mulberry Court they also had supreme faith in

o leave school and go into the cotton mills where their father had worked for so many years. Ever so many of the boys and girls they knew worked there. Why should they remain in the High School struggling with algebra, geometry, history, Latin, English and bookkeeping when they

ho was only nine, knew about them; and once Martin, aged six, had startled his elders by proclaiming on a sunn

d of the month there were no pennies to be had, and you

uely guessed and when it had passed in safety all the McG

secret, either, of how she did it. She sewed! Yes, she sewed for a dressmaker who sent her marvelous dresses to embroider. For Ma was very clever with her needle and right out of the blue sky could m

ery prou

as the important thing. Ma must not roughen her hands or the silks she worked with would be spoiled. So Mary cooked and scrubb

brought home any bits of discarded wood they found in the streets. In fact, there was not one drone in the M

e-over stockings. Martin's reefer frequently did duty for Nell, and Mrs. McGregor's cape for Mary. However, all that did not matter. They were happy and that was the chief thing, happy in spite of patched clothing, coats that were outg

what a dish for the gods! And who could have asked for a greater treat than

a, or South America. Sometimes letters came from him and picture postcards showing strange countries and people in foreign dress. But the check never failed to make its appearance and as it was highly important that it should, everybody agreed that since

nd the shelter of Mulberry Court above their heads, and

me came to be mentioned co

ul to him for them," the boy's mother would observe when she brought home the purchase. O

at of a benevolent-faced fairy clad in robes of purple and ermine, and wearing on his head a crown resplendent with gems of myriad colors. In his hand he carried a scepter terminating

ho sailed the Charlotte to India, China, South America, or some other ephemer