The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1884-04-09
The Bad Boy.
He is Sick, but his Flag is Still There.

"Well, Hennery, I am sorry to fine
you in this fix" said the groceryman
as be tiptoed into the darkened room
at the house of the bad boy, where
he found him in bed propped up with
pillows, pallor on his face that was
frightful, and general look of gone
ness. Your pa tells me you have
been sick nearly a week. I thought
things at the grocery store were 60
ing on in a solemn sort of manner
Don't hurt you to talk to you, does
is?' and the grocerymsn looked fol-
chair to sit down in.
Nav, it don't" said the bad boy,
as he motioned to a chair, and the
groceryman sat down. IF talking
would kill me I'd have been dead
long ago. By the way, I wish you
would hand me that mustard plaster.
You will find it in that chair you are
sitting on" and the boy smiled a
sickly smile, while the groceryman
got up as though he was in hurry,
and apologized for sitting on the plas-
ter. mo apology is necessary" said
the boy. "When anybody comes to
see me they are welcome to the best
We have got. A soft answer turneth
away wrath, and mustard plaster
ooverth a multitude of pneumonia, p"
and Hennery applied the plaster to
his chest, and asked the groceryman
to hand him box of pills on the
table. The groceryman handed the
boy box of pills and glass of wa
ter, and he took small handful of
pills and swallow OF water, smacked
his lips and said:
"Ah! A nectar fit for the gods.
Do yon know there is something
about being sick that takes the cake ?
You can lay and sleep, or rise up and
cough. Aud then, the beautiful med
icine the doctor leaves! I take is be-
cause it pleases the doctor. He is q
nice man, but I don't think man
can feel of your pulse and listen to
the mocking bird 10 your heart by
holding his ear on your shirt, and
tell what is the matter with you.
Gimme drink. Now I want you to
do some things for me, as I may not
pull through, and pa is so busy in
ozSs..ttz.++-u.s-,4ta. any,.
thing. Are you there, Morisrity
eyes, yes," said the groceryman,
as he saw the boy had something he
wanted to say; "out with it now, and
will do anything you ask me to-"
"Well, you know that man without
any legs, that plays the hand organ
down on the corner. want you to
take my skates to him and tell him"
"Great heavens" said the grocery
map, "what do you want to send
pair cf skates to man that hasn't
got any legs for?"
s:Don't interrupt the speaker" said
the bad boy, as he took pill for
change. Take the skates TO him
and tell him I lend them to him till l
get we'll. He has got three boys, and
they are too poor to buy skates and
they can take turns using mine, and
I shall not miss them, for if I live the
skating will be all gone before / get
out doors, and if I die there will be
no skating where I am going"
"Oh, say, hush up, now" said the
groceryman. "You arc not half as
sick as you think you are, and there
is no hurry about your dividing up
your worldly goods. In day or two
you will be out as good as new. max
ing it interesting for all Of US. What
Was the hired girl laughing at when
she let me in? She said something
about soaring the folks out OF seven
years growth, just before yon were
taken SICK" and the grocer thought
if he could get the sick boy to talk
about something funny it would cure
him. ,
"WeIl," said the boy. as ne laughed
so the skin was drawn across his
pinched face, 1T was awful mean,
but ma wanted to know what time
pa got home at nights, since be has
got to working the ward for -GldaE-
man. You see be comes in all times
of the night, and tries to keep still SO
as not to wake ma up. He comes IN
and undresses in the dark, and re-
tires, and ma don't wake up. / have
cot friend working in a jewelry
store, and I got him to lend me six
of these little alarm clocks, aud l
wound them all up and placed them
around in the house where I could
touch them off when pa came IN.
put ono on the hat rack, and when
pa came in just after midnight ]
touched it off just as be put his hal
on the rack, and crept half way uF
the stairs. Pa was trying to be quiet
and when that alarm went of hf
looked sick. He didn't know wha
it was, but he just stood STILL will
; his overcoat half off, and waited fol
| the thing to run down, and he wa
listening all the time to see If mi