The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-07-15
HOW TOM JONES LOST HIS PRO
MOTION.


cough set in that alarmed his mamma.
and she was just making up her mind
to send for the family physician. when
Tom was seized one morning with a mt
OF cous hing which ended in prolonged,
unmstakable whoop. No Indian ON the
war-path ever seemed better satisfied
with whoop than Mrs. Jones did with
this one of Toms.
"Why, Tommy's got the whooping-
coughr' che exclaimed, joyfully, to her
husband.
..Does a legacy usually come with
it?" said Mr.. Jones.
"Well. it's a comfort to know it isn't
anything settling on his lungs, re-
piled Mrs. Jones. Hes got to have
whooping-cough some time, and it's
good time to have it now, when the
warm weather is coming. Now we
needn't wait for vacation to 60 the
country"
"You are in luck, Tom,' said Mr..
Jones. "You can take a long legal
holiday, and need not play hockey any
more"
"Catch me taking a 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 a whole
souled little fellow, always sharing what
he had with his playmates. "lf it's a
good time to have it, why can't l 60
and give it to the whole class?"
"1here's a prejudice against people
being too generous" said MIR. Jones;
and. patting Toms head. ne went OF to
business.
Tom gathered up his books. but his
mamma expla ned to him that he
couldn go to school with whoopingg-
"How long does this thing last?' said
Tom, impatiently.
"Oh, quite a while." said Mrs.
Jones, cheerfully-"two or three
months, perhaps"
1.-TWO or three months!' echoed Tom
with dismay. "Why, Joe Brown III be
away ahead of me by that time, and
sha'n't be promoted!
"Well. never mind, DEAR" said hi.
mamma; cit cam be helped. you know
You'll have to have it some time, anC
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 raget
in the bosom of her son Tom. III
) threw down his books. put both elbow
on the table, and let his chin fall int
| his hands. 1t was all he Gould do t.
keep no with Joe Brown now. Joe wa
J a sickly fellow, but he had great plucl
, and perseverance, and would do his ex
amples with handkerchief tied aroun'
his head-to keep it together, as n
said. He lost many days by sick
ness, but always made it up b
extra work, and the extra brains ths
he had stored away somewhere in ths
I rickety noddle of his. Tom admire
: him and loved him. They had bee
: neighbors, chums and classmates
: long as he could remember. The
0 wood-sheds joined at the back OF the
Yards, and every morning each climbe
8 up to have long talk with the otht
= about the boy-business of the day. Tol
y admired and loved Joe, but he feare
9 him. too. joe delicate health and 9!
d ira brains about struck balance wit
c Toms rugee ed constitution and averae
e intellect: but how about these exit
o months OF whooping cough? The.
l. would leave fearful odds on Joe's sid
> Tom could never catch up with hi
le again. never! 1t was mean. 1t wi
d ha.d. 1t was not to be borne. WI
,. couldn't Joe get the pesky old whoo
of ing.cough, too? But Tom thought
b Joe's hollow cheeks and sunken eye
N and put that temptation away from hir
ID He made up his mind he would cautie
D. Joe at once. and ran out to Bridget +
c. a yellow rag that he had seen about ii
d kitchen. Taking it out to the WOO
d, she'd he hoisted it upon . hastily impr
% vised pulley.
nj "What's thatr' said Joe. who hi
heen waiting for Tom