The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1875-05-21
The Boy with the "Ager.
Detroit Free Press

1t was plain. that he didn't feel well. He
changed his seat on the Post-office steps, so
as to let the warm sun strike him all over,
and every moment or two he raised his
arms and stretched and yawned. Plenty
of dirty boots went by but lie looked upon
them with Indifference. The promise of
81 wouldn't have induced him to GO over
to Jefferson avenue and back.
The yawns came faster, cold streaks
crept up and down his back, and his lips
turned blue. A pedestrian halted, looked
at him, and asked
"Boy, are you sick?'
"N-not exactly sick, answered the boy,
"b-but don't feel highfalutin.
The man passed on and the boys teeth
began to chatter, and he drew himself up
in small heap and tried to have the sun
strike him on all sides at once.
A portly man halted and looked, and
then, striking his cane on the walk, he
asked:
Club, what's the matter ?''
"A-a-a-a-ger."
"Humh ~ said the fat man, as he pressed
on.
Some boys came around the corner, and
one shouted out:
''See his blue ears p
"And hear them teeth shaking p' cried
another. ............
"And see how he snivers p shouted a
third.
They kindly took hold of him and tried
to hold him still, but the shivers would
make him jerk, and his teeth would clatter
as before. One boy ran off and returned
with some peanuts and prize package,
but the lad with the ague turned away his
head. Peanuts had once been his best
hold, but now was his hour of sorrow.
'What ails that boy ?' asked woman,
as she halted.
"Got the awfullest fit of the ager you
ever seed y
We'll, he ought to be put to bed," she
said as she passed on.
The boys offered to draw him home in a
cart, but his eyes flashed as he drew him
self up, held ON to his teeth, and hastily ex-
claimed:
"Spose let the ager floor me ?"
A man came along with satchel in his
hand, and after taking good look ae the
boy he said:
Il had the ager fourteen straight years
and never missed but one day, and know
how to sympathize with you. If had any
money I'd give You some IN minute"
The boys leaned the patient back against
the wall, and while one of them combed
his hair with an OLD horn pocket comb, an
other washed his hands by splitting on
them and then rubbing with his coat tail.
Such tender and unexpected attentions
touched Jorgy's heart, and his eyes filed
with tears as he said:
B-boys, if ever g-get well, I'll make
this all right!'
Then one of the boys took the patients
head in his lap, another held his feet and
third stood ON CALL
What's this ?" asked policeman, as he
lounged up.
/" Powerful sick boy,'' whispered one of
the lads. He's jest groaning and taking
on aWfully.n
Well, this is no place for sick boy.
You'd better get him home, or take. him
into the alley
I" Take dying boy into the alley!,' ech-
oed the lad. Sir. Do you think dying
boy is a hoss ?'' .r
The officer wandered away and Jorgy
whispered his gratitude. He said if he
died, he wanted Lame Jack to have his
knife, little Dick his wallet, and Peanut
Tom could take all the rest.
They held him there for an hour. and
when his chill passed off and the fever came
on, six on seven of them loaded him into q
borrowed hand-cart, pillowed his head on
q bundle of papers and dew him home ward.
Some said il would result in death and
spoke of him as the deceased = but 9th
ers argned that there was d chance for him
to pull through and to once more give His
undivided attention To them bukas