The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-23
HOW TOM JONES LOST HIS PRO.
MOTION.

LON 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 in 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
docs legacy usually come with
it?" said Mr.. Jones.
"Well. it's a comfort to know it ism t
anything settling on his lungs" re-
piled Mrs. Jones. Hes got to have
whooping-cough some time, and it's a
good time to have it now, when the
warm weather is coming. Now we
needn't wait for vacation to go the
country
'' You are in luck, Tom" said Mr..
Jones. "You can take u long legal
holiday, and need not play hockey any
more.n
''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 l1newhe 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. If it's
good time to have it, why can't go
and give it to the whole clasSP"
"There's prejudice against people
being too generous" said Mr.. Jones;
and, patting Toms head, ne went off to
business.
Tom gathered up his books, but his
mamma explained to him that he
couldn't go to school with whooping-
cough.
.!How long does this thing last?' said
Tom, impatiently.
"Oh, quite WHILE" said Mrs.
Jones, cheerfully-"t or three
months, perhaps"
1.-Two or three monthsn' echoed Tom,
with dismay "Why, Joe Brown Il be
away ahead OF me by that time, and [
sha'n't be promotedr'
"Well, never mind, DEAR" said his
mamma; sit can't be helped, you know.
YOU have to have it some time, and
it's 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
q sickly fellow, but he had great pluck
and perseverance, and would do his eX-
amples with 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
rickety noddle of his. Tom admired
him and loved him. They had been
neighbors, 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 a 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 ex-
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, too? But Tom thought of
Joe's hollow cheeks and sunken ewes,
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 hastily impro-
vised pulley.
whats that?" said Joe, who had