“It useter be,” said Jud, looking around at his crowd, “that the parents spoiled the kids, but now it is the kids spoilin' the parents.”
His audience met this with smiles and laughter.
“I never did know before,” went on Jud, “what that old sayin' really meant: 'A fool for luck an' a po' man for chillun.'”
Another crackling laugh.
“How much did Joe Hopper's chillun fetch 'im in this week?”
Joe jingled his silver in his pocket and spat importantly on the floor.
“I tell you, when I married,” said Jud, “I seed nothin' but poverty an' the multiplication of my part of the earth ahead of me—poverty, I tell you, starvation an' every new chile addin' to it. But since you started this mill, Mister Kingsley (Kingsley smiled and bowed across the desk at him), I've turned what everybody said 'ud starve us into ready cash. And now I say to the young folks: 'Marry an' multiply an' the cash will be forthcomin'.'”
This was followed by loud laughs, especially from those who were blessed with children, and they filed up to get their wages.
Jim Stallings, who had four in the mill, was counted out eleven dollars. As he pocketed it he looked at Jud and said:
“Oh, no, Jud; it don't pay to raise chillun. I wish I had the chance old Sollerman had. I'd soon make old Vanderbilt look like shin plaster.”