Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-07-12

that summer.
81 tell you," said Jamie, about the
third day of his experience, with vio-
lent kick at the foot-board, "I'll just
punch Tom Thayer when I get well
Telling such whoppers about the
measles, and making me think it would
be fun to have 'em."
II don't believe I'd punch him. said
peaceful loving Lima, from her bed in
the opposite corner. perhaps he didn't
have our kind of measles. feel as if
was lying on thistles. don't you? Ev-
erything is so hot and prickly."
"And you are all spattered over with
red spots," rejoined Jamie, rising on
his elbow to look over at his sister.
Sc You look real funny, so speckled."
Forthwith Master Jamie began to
sing:
-s'speckledly hen, speckledly hen,
What do you do in my garden pene"
with cheerful voice, trying thus to for
get the pam and discomfort which were
testing all his bravery. But they were
not->to be driven away by singing, not
even by Mammals tender nursing, for
that day, or the next, or for many days.
There were long, tiresOme nights, too,
when Jamie watched the shadows which
the night lamps cast upon the walls, and
fancied them alive, and lying in wait
to seize him, when Lima tossed and
moaned-when, in fact, Mamma and
Grandma both had their hands very full
with the restless, suffering little
patients.
That tedious time came to an end at
last; the children grew better, and able
to sit up little, and with returning
health came such appetites 1t was very
ha r1 To .hS fh1a xuh oh nr.
Bland and Mamma insisted on in those
early days of conyalescence.
''Were you ever dreadfully hungry,
Grandma ?'' asked Jamie, plaintivelv,
one day, after he-had been positively
certain five times in fifteen minutes that
he should ssstarve" if he couldn't have
any more dinner.
sI was once, remember" said Grand
ma. with little flicker of smile.
els it story? Please tell us about
it," entreated Lima.
"It happened years ago, but L have
never forgotten it; indeed, | have good
reason to remember it,' said Grandma,
with another queer little smile.
''One pleasant spring morning my
father and mother said goodbye to us
children, and drove away in the high.
old-fashioned chaise on journey to
Springfield. That meant something in
those days, when railroads were not
common as they are now, and people
did most of their travelling in stage
coaches, or private carriages, if they
owned them. Ny brother Rolfe and |
watched them until they were out of
sight, and turned back to the house
rather soberly. We were left in the
care of Patience Doolittle, Il woman who
had lived in our house ever since l could
remember anything, so we were just a
safe as when Mother was at home, but
at first it seemed rather lonely. Patience
was very kind, and told us stories every
night, but Rolte and agreed it was not
like having Mamma to put us to bed,
and that when we grew up we would
always take our children with us when
we went on Journeys.
stOur parents had been gone a week
when Ruth Pettis came over to ask Pa
Hence if she couldn't come and watch
for night with /Rutli's Mother, who
was very sick.
''T can't, possibly said Patience.
Il promised to look after these children
while Mrs. Sidney was gone, and I've
no right to leave Them
&c But nobody makes Mother so conf
Portable as you,' said Ruth, mournfully.
'She fancies your care so much.'
Patience looked troubled; she did
want to oblige the sick woman, but she
thought it was her duty not to leave us.
''sLet me 60 and stay with Sue
Rogers cried l. Mother said
might" .-
"'Sure enough said Patience, look
ing relieved. your Mother did say
you might have that visit. I could let
you go there, and send Rolfe to your
Uncle Johns, then Jane could take care
ofDthe house and the men well enough.
She is too feather-headed to trust, with
the children, but she understands the
housework well enough"
"After Il great deal of hesitation Pa
tience decided on this plan as meeting
all the requirements of the case. | was
delighted to visit Sue, who was my dear
est friend, and Rolfe thought he was
most fortunate in being sent to Uncle
Johns, where there were seven boys TO
play with.
ed it very jolly, if that word had been
invented then," added Grandma.
= Lima laughed a little, ana Jamie
| turned red.
'sDon't stop to talk, lease," he said
sttell us the story"
| ""Well," said Grandma. ''it was az
| ranged that we should all go to Confer.
ence meeting in the afternoon, and from
| there Rolfe and l were to go to our re.
spective visits, while Patience went
home with Ruth. Neither Aunt Marth:
nor Mrs. Rogers would need any motto,
of our coming They were sure TO be
at. the meeting, and we could go hom,
with them from there.
.'Ene church stood on hill at som,
distance from any dwelling house. IL
fact, all the houses in the town wer,
scatte&ed rather far apart, for 1t was
farming region, and what is now tn,
village had not grown up then. Yo,
| would think the church very odd, coult
you see it as Rolfe and l did that sprin.
afternoon. The pews were square, AM
very high, so that the backs came quit,
! above my head when sitting down, an,
l always used to stand on the seat dur
ing the singing, or l could not hay
seen anything but the boards that wall
ed me in. Patience and Ruth sat in tn
singing seats, ald after parting cl,arg
to me to go straight to Mrs. Rogers whei
meeting was done, and to ROlfe to b
quiet, Patience went into the gallery
and we children walked gravely to on
pew. We thought it quite grand to b
by ourselves, and we sat at opposit
ends of the pew like father and mother
looking as dignified as possible.
The meeting was long, and we wer
little, so presently we forgot to be die
nitied. | Slipped down on footstooi
put my head on the cushion, and fel
!, fast asleep, while Rolfe tied knots In hi
handkerchief, aud built house of tn
hymn books. The last thing remen
ber is looking up at the sides of til
pew, and thinking it seemed as if
were at the bottom of n we'll, wher
| trnh IN mn