"'Tis Andy that will make us all proud, if only he can go to college," concluded this unselfish oldest brother.
The widow glanced at the lit-up countenance and eager eyes of her third son, and, loth to rouse hopes that might later have to be dashed down, observed, "Thim colleges are ixpinsive, I belave."
Andy's face clouded with anxiety. There must be a chance for him, or Pat would not have spoken with so much certainty.
"They may be," replied Pat, "but Andy will have Mike on one side of him and me on the other, and we'll make it all right."
"That we will," cried Mike enthusiastically. "By the time he needs to go I'll be making forty dollars a month myself, and little Jim will be earning for himself."
Sturdy Mike as he spoke cast an encouraging look on his favorite brother, who laid by his frown and put on at once an air of importance.
"I'm goin' to be a foightin' man loike the Gineral," he announced pompously.
"Well, well," cried the widow. "I'm gettin' old fast. You'll all be growed up in a few minutes."
And then they all laughed.
But presently the mother said, "Thank God for brothers as is brothers. Andy is goin' to college sure."