The Able McLaughlins
"'To them that hath, it shall be given.' Them that has sons, has grandsons."
Wully looked up from the picture to her, and wondered if it would have comforted her to know that the child so brutally begotten was indeed her grandson. Not that it made any difference, of course. He wouldn't tell her in any case. He hated that little picture. It had possibilities against which he couldn't fight. And the women were saying to the baby;
"Say 'Aunt Libby,' Johnnie. Come on, now! Say 'Aunt Libby.' Say it, baby! Look, he's going to say it!"
They had reason to think so. Johnnie prepared for action. He pursed up his red lips. He looked around upon his admirers, complacently, happily. All eyes were upon him. He let them wait a moment. Then he manipulated his lips more earnestly. The great moment was at hand.
"Pr-r-r-r-r!" he articulated proudly. "Pr-r-r!"
Various aunties dived for him, rewarding him with laughter and huggings, enthusiastically. Was there ever so silly a baby, ever a bairn so lovable, they asked. It occurred to Wully casually that perhaps the secure son of Wully McLaughlin was a more fortunate being than the unfathered offspring of Peter Keith would have been.
