human
he cried.
gpt
Come out, mother, dear, and sit in father's chair. You've got a wash boy this mornin', so you have, and he'll need a lot of showin'.
human
Moike! Moike! cried Mrs. O'Callaghan in a trembling tone,
gpt
Then 'tis time you was! answered Mike.
human
And I'm the boy to do it, too. Come out, mother dear.
gpt
But there's your housework, Moike.
human
That can wait,
gpt
But there's your schoolin'.
human
I'm not goin' to school to-day. I know my lessons. I learnt 'em last night. Will I be goin' to school and sittin' there all day, and you all tired out a-washin' for us? I won't that.
gpt
Moike, 'twas your father was dreadful headstrong when he set out to be. It's fearin' I am you're loike him there.
human
It's wantin' I am to be like him in everything, headstrong and all. I'm not goin' to school to-day.
gpt
And you needn't, Moike. I'll be ownin' to you now I didn't feel equal to the washin', and that's the truth.
human
There's more than one kind of a boy needed in a house, he said to himself.
gpt
With seven of us mother ought to have 'em of all kinds. I'm the one to be aisin' her. I'm built for it.
human
Now be careful, began Mike's first lesson in washing,
gpt
Do you know what's the matter with this town, Moike? All the b'ys in it that wants to work at all wants to do somethin' aisy, loike drivin' a delivery wagon. Though the way they drive 'em ain't so aisy on the horses, nayther. There's a lesson for you, Moike. Them that's so aisy on themsilves is the very wans to be hard on iverything and iverybody. Them that's got snail's feet of their own can't get a horse to go fast enough for 'em, specially when the horse belongs to somebody else. And I'm jist a-gettin' my courage up, Moike. I belave there'll be always something for my b'ys to do, because my b'ys will _work_. And if they can't get b'ys' work they'll do girls' work. Betwane you and me, Moike, I'm proud of Pat. Have you heard the news? When school closes he's to have two dollars a week, and three afternoons out all summer. And what do you think Mrs. Brady says? She says she hain't had such help since she lived in the East. She says she's restin', and she feels ten years younger. That's your brother's work, Moike,--makin' a lady like Mrs. Gineral Brady feel ten years younger. If there's aught to be ashamed of in that, sure 'twould take a ninny to find out what it is. I'll warrant them delivery b'ys' horses ain't feelin' ten years younger, anyway.
human
You're doin' foine, Moike. Do you know there was a girl wanst set to washin', and she had it in her moind to do a good job, too. The first thing she got hold of was a pillow case with lace on the ind of it--wide lace. And what does she do but lather that clean lace with soap and put in her best licks on it, and all to no purpose at all only to wear the lace to strings, and then, don't you think, she quite skipped the body of the case where the head had been a-layin'.