"I've seen real fighting, when it was a life-and-death
matter. I've tended to the men that were shot before my eyes,
and I've sung hymns over them that died. You boys have grown up
on some of the stories about the things I've been through.
"And here last night," she reproached irritatedly, I heard
someone say: 'Oh, come on--we're scaring Mum to death!' The idea!
'scaring Mum!' I can tell you young jackanapes one thing: If I
thought there was anything to be gained by it, or if it would
save trouble instead of MAKING trouble,'MUM' could go down there
right now, old as she is, and SCARED as she is, and clean out the
whole, measly outfit!" She stared sternly at the row of faces
bent over their plates.
"Oh, you can laugh--it's only your mother!" she exclaimed
indignantly, when she saw Jack's eyes go shut and Gene's mouth
pucker into a tight knot. "But I'll have you to know I'm boss of
this ranch when your father's gone, and if there's any more of
that kid foolishness to-day--laying behind a currant bush and
shooting COFFEE-POTS!--I'll thrash the fellow that starts it! It
isn't the kind of fighting I'VE been used to.
Pages:
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305