Fair play., 1883-01-06
Nabel's Sickness. and the Lesson II
Taught.

Nabel's Sickness. and the Lesson II
Taught.
'sHow delightful il mI,st be to ho
sick" sighed Mabel. - she saw mamma
carving dainty little fray up stairs.
"Dehghtfm To I've sicS. Natei? Do
you really think sOf' asked her aunt.
was finishing her dinner.
Yes. Aunt Annie. Don't YOU see
how mapma is always cooking nee
things Tor GsHHvsn,l ooaxinS her 10
eat thems The 0ost ,i.aai.. thngs'
And papa brings her Malaga grapes and
California pears and everything he can
think of. Mamma keeps saving. n,
try 10 eat Little. darling. OI course.
want Carrie 10 have nice things. but
mamma never urses Hic 10 eat, YOU
know. auntie.' -,
Too bad.- dear" r-...
"And then-yes, ma am. little
more padding. il YOU please the neigh
bors keep sending leman Jelly, and
whipped cream and things. I'm tired
to death OF roast beef ami taptooa pu,f-
ding. Did YOU see that nice blt ot quail
and toast mamma just took upa And
she picks ont the cunningest little
painted china dishes pretty things
may help tempt her appetite, She SAYS
and always ali,tfe bouquet. Mamma
never puts flowers by mn plate' Snd
Mabel tried to draw on very pathetic
look. but what with rosy cheeks and
dlmples, and proper amount OF aiten-
ton to the pudding. il was somethingof OF
a failure.
Aunt Annie sad few words about
the blessings of health and Il good ap-
petite for wholesome food. Also mild
suggestion that little girls should not
think too much of what they eat; ,o all
of which Mabel listened politely; but
she ran out to play still trying 10 fancy
how il would sound for mamma To say
to here Try just n morsel Of this, pet.
and making up in her mind iong list
OF the goodies she might mention in
case any one ever shouid ask her such u
pleasant question as: Couldn't YOU
think of something you would relish.
DEAR
Mabel might have gone on feeling this
wav for 4 lony time. but for something
which happened To her soon after her
sister got well. She went one after
noon to visit one of her little friends.
and rs usual ran round to the side door
to enter. Not hearing any reply to her
quiet rap. she softly opened the door
and went up to the nursery. As she
stood at the open door she saw that
Hattie was in bed, looking very sick
and feverish.
..What is is the matter, Hattie?' she
said. going up and kissing her. But
Hattie mother sprang UP in alarm as
she saw the little visitor.
20, nv child" she cried. "Run'
run. dear, Go down and go out-this
moment
Mabel ran down. very much aston
ishcd and little frightened. The laly
followed her to the door and told her
Hattie had the scarlet fever; they had
only known what it was that day.
Mamma turned pale when she heard
of it. and still paler when. a week after.
Mabel came home from school one day
and said she had sore throat IL WAS
not bad, though. and she wondered
why she felt like keeping quiet instead
of PLAYING. and what made her back
ache and her limbs feel so tired. But
what surprised her most was that she
did not seem to care for any waffies ut
tea.
She was restless all night anil awoke
out Of disturbed sleep in the morning
to hear the clock strike eight.
Why" she said. starting up. "I
must get right up. or j shall be late ct
school"
You need not go to school to-day.
dear" said mamma
She was glad to lie down again, for
her head felt queer and dizzy. She was
hot sometimes cold, and her
head got worse and worse. But She
could not help smiling n little whel at
mamma said:
What would YOU ike to eat, little
one?" And how strange il seemed That
she answered. almost without thinking:
Il couldn't touch a thing. mamma,
dear"
The grapes ansr& her things appeared
in due season, and Mabei .iked il be-
cause it was the proper thing in SEX
ness. but when mamma ''urged' her %
eat few. the first one made her cry. ir
hurt her throat so.
Then for ten DAYS or so she knew or
cared little for anything And when
they were gone few teaspoons of beef
tea were all any one asked her TO take.
But the Goa ,ing-time came. and poor
little Mabel thought NOR than once of
all Aunt Annie hal said about health
and good appetite for plain food.
Every day. all sorts OF pretty and fan
ciful delicacies found their way to her
room from many who sympathzed with
the pale little sick girl, and mamma
never tired of proposing something new
for her 10 try. but. strange TO say. moth
ingtasted good to this little lassie whOhad
wanted TO be sick so she might have
plenty of nice things TO eat.
The healthy appetite came at last.
though Mabel was long time getting
well. She was sent into the country for
q week. where she soon began TO find
out how very good bread and meat and,
milk and every day fruits are
When she returned home there was
Iust enough pink in her cheeks 10 make
one tiny. pale rose-leaf. but it grew so
fast that mamma felt sure that good
fairy came every night and painted .
deeper shade in. as they rounded out
and soon showed the old dimples-
And it is pleasant to be able to say
that Mabel never got back to her over.
fondness for nice eating. for he could
not forget the time when the very sigh
of dainties of all kinds had been dis
agreeable to her.-Youtis Cornpanion.