Amarilly of Clothes-line Alley

At the close of the performance Amarilly sailed home on waves of

excitement. She was the eldest of the House of Jenkins, whose scions,

numbering eight, were all wage-earners save Iry, the baby. After school

hours Flamingus was a district messenger, Gus milked the grocer's cow,

Milton worked in a shoe-shining establishment, Bobby and Bud had paper

routes, while Cory, commonly called "Co," wiped dishes at a boarding-

house. Notwithstanding all these contributions to the family revenue, it

became a sore struggle for the widow of Americanus Jenkins to feed and

clothe such a numerous brood, so she sought further means of

maintenance.

"I've took a boarder!" she announced solemnly to Amarilly on her return

from the theatre. "He's a switchman and I'm agoin' to fix up the attic

fer him. I don't jest see how we air agoin' to manage about feedin' him.

Thar's no room to the table now, and thar ain't dishes enough to go

around, but you're so contrivin' like, I thought you might find out a

way." Memories of the footlights were temporarily banished upon hearing

this wonderful intelligence. A puzzled pucker came between the brows of

the little would-be prima donna and remained there until at last the

exigency was triumphantly met.

"I hev it, ma! When's he comin'?"

"To-morrer fer breakfast."

"Then we must rayhearse to-night afore we kin put it on right. Come, all

you-uns, to the kitchen table."

The Jenkins children, accustomed to the vernacular of the profession,

were eager to participate in a rehearsal, and they scampered

boisterously to the kitchen precincts. Amarilly, as stage director,

provided seats at the table for herself, her mother, Flamingus, Gus, the

baby, and the Boarder, the long-suffering, many-roled family cat

personating the latter as understudy. Behind their chairs, save those

occupied by the Boarder and the baby, were stationed Milton, Bobby, Bud,

and Cory. This outer row, Amarilly explained, was to be fed from the

plates of their elders with food convenient as was Elijah by the

Scriptural ravens. This plan lifted the strain from the limited table

appointments, but met with opposition from the outpost who rebelled

against their stations.

"I ain't agoin' to stand behind Flam or Gus," growled Milton. "I won't

stand no show fer grub at all."

"I ain't, neither," and "Nit fer me!" chorused the near twins, Bobby and

Bud.

"I want to set at the table and eat like folks!" sobbed Cory.

Mrs. Jenkins advocated immediate surrender, but the diplomatic little

general, whose policy was pacification, in shrill, appealing voice

reassured and wheedled the young mutineers back into the ranks.