The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-08-10
Johnny's Good Rest.

Johnny's Good Rest.
Its dreadful shame to make boy
go to school such q day as this" said
Johnny, as he slowly dressed himself
one bright October morning.
He looked out of the window at the
beautiful red and yellow of the autumn
leaves. The sun was just peeping over
hill, touching the tops of the trees,
which shone with dew-drops. Johnny
thought every tree looked like great
bouquet.
He knew that the frost of few
nights ago had burst the chestnut burs,
and that the brown nuts were just
waiting for lively shake to bring them
rafting down. There was just enough
of Jack Frost's breath in the air this
morning to set boys blood tingling,
and Johnny looked and looked and the
more he looked, the more he felt that
he could not sit at desk all that day.
Il don't believe feel very well, he
said. de put on a forlorn expression,
and looked in the glass, trying to think
he did Ifbt look we'll. AS he went down
-
bunch of amaranths and bittersweet
berries, and his dog came frolicking to
meet him, but Johnny did not take
much notice Of either, for he knew he
could not keep the forlorn look on his
face if he did.
What is the matter?" asked his
mother.
MY head doesn't feel just right
said Johnny, "and I'm rather weak
not really sick, you know, but l don't
feel quite able to study to-day. /
think a little fresh air will set me all
right.
Let me see your tongue The
tongue was of the proper red color,
and so were the round cheeks. Eyes
bright, and pulse ticking in business
like manner.
Johnny's mother remembered that
it was not quite six weeks since he
had had just such an attack. He had
sat in an apple-tree most of the morn
ing reading "Robinson Crusoe," and In
the afternoon had gone fishing.
This, perhaps, ought to have shown
her that johnny was right in thinking
nc leeueu lItbH uII. Dul inOtutIS tO
not always look at such things just as
little boys do. She made up her mind
that to-day Johnny should be either
sick or well in good earnest.
you really are too i'll to go to school ?"
she asked.
eyes, mamma, think So" said
Johnny, holding out his plate for pan
,akes. Il just want a good rest
"Oh, no, my dear she said, you
,annot eat pancakes when you are sick.
You must make your breakfast of oat-
meal or dry toast"
Johnny looked blank. He liked pan
cakes and maple syrup very much, and
he hated oatmeal. He found the dry
toast rather a poor breakfast, but he
knew there were plenty of apples and
pears out of doors, so he had no fear
of suffering with hunger.
When the other children had gone to
school, his mother led him to small
bedroom which opened off her own.
you must keep very quiet, dear. y
she said. Let me help you undress,
YOU will be more comfortable so. Now
l will draw the curtains, so the light
get better soon, must give you some
medicine"
And, before Johnny had time to
think, he was lying in a dark room that
sunshiny morning. He felt as if he
could turn dozen somersets, climb the
tallest tree in the yard run five-mile
race, wrestle with boy bigger than
himself, even study. But to lie here
Cant read little ?" he asked.
mo, dear, it might make your head
worse
please let me have my Chinese puz-
zle, mamma.
mo, L want You to have good
rest.
Poor Johnny tossed and tossed, and
thought that resting was the hardest
work in the world as the long hours Of
the morning dragged on. BY the dim
light he counted the flowers on the wall
papering, and watched the slow moving
of the little bar of sunshine which came
through the blinds. He said the null
DUPLICATION table as far as he knew it,
counted 1000. and said the alphabet
backwards. After while, he begged
his mother TO bring his 2-year-old
brother to him, but she was afraid it
might disturb him.
Noon-time came, and with it the
merry troop from school Johnny
waited anxiously for his dinner, remem-
bering with horror that DR.. Tanner had
tasted eighty times as long as he had.
But no roast veal and tapioca pud-
ding came TO him. Only bowl of Cruel
and an amazing pile of bread and but