Only a boy, with his fearful tread, Who cannot be driven, but must be led; Who troubles the neighbors' dogs and cats, And tears more clothes, and spoils more hats, Loses more tops and kites and bats Than would stock a store, For a year or more. Only a boy, with his wild, strange ways, With his idle hours on busy days; With his queer remarks and his odd replies, Sometimes foolish and sometimes wise, Often brilliant for one of his size, As a meteor hurl'd, From the pleasant world. Only a boy, who will be a man If Nature goes on with her first great plan-- If water, or fire, or some fatal snare Conspire not to rob us of this our heir, Our blessing, our trouble, our rest, our care, Our torment, our joy, "Our only boy." --_Anonymous_. BOLAX IMP OR ANGEL--WHICH? CHAPTER I. AMY'S COMPANY "Come children," said Mrs. Allen, "Mamma wants to take you for a nice walk." "Oh, please, dear Mamma, wait awhile! Bolax and I have company!" This from little Amy, Bo's sister. Mrs. Allen looked around the room, and saw several chairs placed before the fire; but seeing no visitors, was about to sit in the large arm chair. "Oh, dear Mamma," said Amy, "please do not take that chair! That's for poor old St. Joseph; he will be here presently." Turning toward the chair nearest the fire, the child bowed down to the floor, saying: "Little Jesus I love you! When will St. Joseph be here?" Then bowing before the next chair: "Blessed Mother, are you comfortable? Here is a footstool." Mrs. Allen went into the hall, and was about to close the door, when Bolax called out: "Oh, Ma dear, please don't shut the door. Here comes St. Joseph and five beautiful angels." Mrs. Allen was rather startled at the positive manner in which this was said, and unconsciously stepped aside, as if really to make way for the celestial visitors. Then leaving the children to amuse themselves, she listened to them from an adjoining room. This is what she heard: Amy--Dear St. Joseph please sit down; blessed angels, I am sorry that I haven't enough chairs, but you can rest on your beautiful wings. Bolax--Little Jesus, I'm so glad you've come. Mamma says you are very powerful, even if you are so little. I want to ask you lots of things. Do you see these round pieces of tin? Well, won't you please change them all into dollars, so we can have money for the poor, and sister Amy won't be crying in the street when she has no money to give all the blind and the lame people we meet. And dear Jesus, let me whisper--I want a gun. Amy--Dear Blessed Mother please make poor Miss Ogden well. I heard her tell my Mamma she was afraid to die; and she is very sick. She has such a sad face, and she looks mis'able. Bolax--Sister, won't you ask lots of things for me? I'm afraid to ask 'cause I was naughty this morning. I dyed pussy's hair with Papa's red ink.