Only an Irish Boy | Page 7

stain on your coat, Godfrey? I should
think you had been down on your back on the ground."
"Oh," said Godfrey, rather embarrassed, "I happened to slip as I was
wrestling with the fellow, and fell on my back. However, I was up
again directly and gave it to him, I can tell you. If father hadn't stopped
me I'd have laid him out," he continued, in a swaggering tone.
It will be seen that Godfrey did not always confine himself to the truth.
Indeed, he found it rather hard at all times to admit either that he had
been in the wrong or had been worsted. Even if his mother sometimes
suspected that his accounts were a trifle distorted, she forbore to
question their accuracy. Mother and son had a sort of tacit compact by

which they stood by each other, and made common cause against
Colonel Preston.
"Don't you know the boy? Doesn't he live in the neighborhood?" asked
Mrs. Preston, after a pause.
"He's just come into the town, but I'll tell you who he is. He's the son of
that woman that comes to work for you once a week."
"Mrs. Burke?"
"Yes; he told me that his name was Andy Burke."
"He ought to know his place too well to be impudent to one in your
position."
"So I think."
"I shall speak to Mrs. Burke about her son's bad behavior."
"I wish you'd discharge her. That's a good way to punish the boy."
"I shouldn't object to doing that, Godfrey, but Mrs. Burke is a capital
hand at ironing shirts. Yours and your father's never looked so nice as
they have since she has been here."
Godfrey looked a little discontented. Being essentially mean, he
thought it would be an excellent plan to strike the son through the
mother.
"You might threaten her, mother, a little. Tell her to make her boy
behave himself, or you'll discharge her."
"I will certainly speak to her on the subject, Godfrey."
At the table Mrs. Preston introduced the subject of Godfrey's wrongs.
"I am surprised, Mr. Preston, that you took part against Godfrey when
he was rudely assaulted this morning."

"I thought Godfrey in the wrong, my dear. That was my reason."
"You generally appear to think your own son in the wrong. You are
ready to take part with any stranger against him," said Mrs. Preston, in
a complaining manner.
"I don't think you are quite right just there," said her husband,
good-humoredly. "I must say, however, that Godfrey generally is in the
wrong."
"You are very unjust to him."
"I don't mean to be. I would be glad to praise him, but he is so
overbearing to those whom he considers his inferiors, that I am
frequently ashamed of his manner of treating others."
"The boy has some reason to feel proud. He must maintain his
position."
"What is his position?"
"I don't think you need to ask. As our son he is entitled to a degree of
consideration."
"He will receive consideration enough if he deserves it, but this is a
republic, and all are supposed to be on an equality."
Mrs. Preston tossed her head.
"That's well enough to say, but don't you consider yourself above a man
that goes round sawing wood for a living?"
"At any rate I would treat him with courtesy. Because I am richer, and
have a better education, it is no reason why I should treat him with
contempt."
"Then I don't share your sentiments," said Mrs. Preston. "I am thankful
that I know my position better. I mean to uphold the dignity of the
family, and I hope my son will do the same."

Colonel Preston shrugged his shoulders as his wife swept from the
room. He knew of old her sentiments on this subject, and he was aware
that she was not likely to become a convert to his more democratic
ideas.
"I am afraid she will spoil Godfrey," he thought. "The boy is getting
intolerable. I am glad this Irish boy gave him a lesson. He seems a
fine-spirited lad. I will help him if I can."
"Ellen," said Mrs. Preston the next morning, "when Mrs. Burke comes
let me know."
"Yes, ma'am."
"She's come," announced Ellen, half an hour later.
Mrs. Preston rose from her seat and went into the laundry.
"Good-morning, Mrs. Preston," said Mrs. Burke.
"Good-morning," returned the other, stiffly. "Mrs. Burke, I hear that
your son behaved very badly to my Godfrey yesterday."
"It isn't like Andy, ma'am," said the mother, quietly. "He's a good,
well-behaved lad."
"Godfrey tells me that he made a brutal assault upon him, quite
forgetting his superior position."
"Are you sure Master Godfrey didn't strike him first?" asked the
mother.
"Even if he had, your son shouldn't have