Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-07-14
HOW TON JONES LOST HIS PRO-
MOTION.

Tom Jones began to wheeZe and
sneeze last spring, and pretty soon a
| cough set in that alarmed mis- mamma
and she was just making up her mind
to send for the family physician, when
Tom was seized one morning with tit
OF coughing which ended i'm prolonged,
unmistakable whoop. No Indian on the
war; path ever seemed better satisfied
with a whoop than Mrs. Jones did with
this one of Toms.
"Why, Tommy's got the whooping-
cough, she exclaimed, joyfully, to her
husband.
Does legacy usually come with
it?' said Mr.. Jones.
"Well. it's comfort TO know it ISM
anything settling on his lungs" re-
piled Mrs. Jones. Hes got to have
whooping-cough some time, and it's n
good time to have it now, when the
warm weather is coming. Now we
needn't wait for vacation to 90 the
country"
You are in luck, Tom," said Mr..
Jones. "You can take n long legal
holiday, and need not play hockey any
more"
Catch me taking holiday till the
rest of the boys do. and you'll catch a
weasel asleep: Joe Brown amt going to
get ahead of me-" said Tom. whose
father knew he never "played hockey"
But, my son, you don't want to
give away the whooping-cough? It's
something nice to keep; you mustn't be
too generous with it."
There's nothing stingy about me-"
said Tom, who, in truth, was whole
souled little fellow, always sharing what
he had with his playmates. "lf it's q
good time to have it, why can't l go
and give it to the whole CLASP"
There's prejudice against people
being too generous" said Mr.. Jones;
and, patting Toms head. he went off to
business.
Tom gathered up his books, but his
mamma explained to him that he
couldn't 60 to school with whooping-
cough.
How long does this thing last?' said
Tom, impatiently.
"Oh, quite q WHILE" said Mrs.
Jones, cheerfully-"tw or three
months, perhaps"
1.-Two or three monthsr' echoed Tom,
with dismay. "Why, Joe Brown III be
away ahead of me by that time, and L
sha'n't be promotedH'
"Well, never mind, dear" said his
mamma; 1T can't be helped, you know.
You'll have to have it some time, and
it s a good time to have it now."
Mrs. Jones began humming tune,
and went up stairs to pack her trunks.
not dreaming of the tempest that ragged
in the bosom of her son Tom. He
threw down his books, put both elbows
on the table, and let his chin fall into
his hands. 1t was all he could do to
keep up with Joe Brown now. Joe was
a sicklv fellow. but he had great pluck
and perseverance, and would do his ex-
ampies with a handkerchief tied around
his head-to keep it together, as he
said He lost many days by sick
ness, but always made it up by
extra work, and the extra brains that
he had stored away somewhere in that
rickety noddle of his. Tom admired
him and loved him. They had been
neiohbors, chums and classmates as
long as he could remember. Their
wood-sheds Joined at the back of their
Yards, and every morning each climbed
up to have long talk with the other
about the boy-business OF the day. Tom
admired and loved Joe, but he feared
him. too. Joe's delicate health and en-
ira brains about struck balance with
Toms rugged constitution and average
intellect; but how about these extra
months of whooping-cough? These
would leave fearful odds on Joe's side.
Tom could never catch up with him
again-never! 1t was mean 1t was
hard. 1t was not to be borne. Why
couldn't Joe get the pesky old whoop-
ing-cough, too9 But Tom thought of
Joe's hollow cheeks and sunken eyes,
and put that temptation away from him.
He made up his mind he would caution
Joe at once, and ran out to Bridget for
a yellow rag that he had seen about the
kitchen Taking it out to the wood
shed he hoisted it upon a hastily impro-
vised pulley.
whats that?'' said Joe. who had
heen waiting for Tom.