Bernie Babcock

The Daughter of a Republican Bernie Babcock

Book Excerpt: ...be your boy. You want a boy, and you know yourself you'll never be able to make one of Vivian, with her wee little mouth and her long braids. Now my hair is just right and I can throw a stone exactly over the middle of the barn and kick a ball farther than any boy on the block. I shall kick more hereafter, for don't you think a boy's legs ought to be cultivated?"Judge Thorn smiled and assured her that she was correct in her idea of muscular development."Are boys as good as girls, father?""Boys as good as girls? Why, certainly.""Well, you said once that girls were as good as boys, and if boys are as good as girls they're as good as each other, aren't they?"Judge Thorn could not keep back the laugh this time."I believe that is the logical conclusion," he said."Then tell me truly, father, if I'm going to be your boy, are you going to be as glad as you were that morning you bothered me when I was digging my well?"Judge Thorn hesitated a moment, but..