Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-03-24
Peok's Bad Boy and His Pa.

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 week. / thought
things at the grocery was going along
in solemn sort of manner. Don't
hurt you to talk to you does it?" and
the groccryman looked around for Il
chair to sit down in.
Nav, il don't hurt" said the bad
boy, as he motioned toa chair, and
the groceryman sat down. "If talk
ing would kill me | would have been
dead long ago. BY the way, | wish
you would hand me that mustard
plaster. You will find it in the chair
you are setting on" and the hoy
smiled Il sickly smile, while the gro
ccryman got up as though he were in
ahurry, and apo'ogizcd for sitting on
the plaster. "No apology necessary"
said the bad boy. "Whcn anybody
comes to see me they are welcome TO
the best we have got A soft answer
turneth away wrath, and mustard
plaster covCrcth multitude Of pneu-
monia," and IIennery applied the
plaster to his chest, and asked the
grOceryman to hand him a box of
pills on the table. The grOceryman
handed the boy box Of pills and a
glass of water, and he took small
handful Of pills and swallow Of wa.
ter, smacked his lips and said;
"Ah! A nectar fit for gods. Do
you know there is something about
being sick that takes the cake? You
can lay and sleep, or raise up and
cough. And then, the beautiful
medicine the doctor leaves! | take it
because ii plcascs the doctor. lie il
nice man, but | don't think man
can feel of your pulse and listen tothe
mocking birds in your heart by hold.
ing his ear on your shirt, and tell
What is the mlttcr with You. Gin n,
a drink. Now want yon to do some.
thing for me, us may not pull
through, and pa is SO busy in politics
that he cant attend to anything.
Are you there, Moriarity p
"Ies, yes, said the groceryman, Il,
he saw the boy had something hc
wanted TO say, "out with it now, and
| will do anything You ask me to.
"Well, you know that man with
out any legs, that plays the hand OF.
gan down on the corner. ! want you
to take my skates TO him and tell
him."
Great hcavens!' said the grocery
man, "what do you want TO send a
pair of skates to man that hasn't got
any legs tor?'
Don't interrupt the speaker said
the bad boy, as hc took pill for {
change.
Take the skates to him, and tell hin
lend them to him until | get well
lie has cot three boys, and they ar,
poor TO buy skates, and they can takC
turns using mine, and ! shall no
miss them, for i'll live the skating
will be all gone before | get out door
and if | die, there will be no skating
where l am going
30, say, hush up now," said tn,
groceryman. "lou are not half 81
sick as you think you are, and there
is no hurry about your. dividing VI
your worldly goods. In day o
two you will be out as good as new
making it interesting for all of us
What was the hired girl laughing
at when she let me in! She salt
something about your soaring til,
folks out of seven years growth, jus
before you were taken sick" and tn,
groceryman thought if he could &c
the sick boy talking about some
thing funny it would cure him.
"Well, said the boy, as he laughed
, so the skin was drawn across hi
pinched face, ''it was awful mean
but ma wanted to know what tim
pa got home nights, since he has so
to working the ward for alderman
You see he comes in at all times o
the night, and tries to keep still so a
to not wake ma up. He comes il
and undresses in the dark, and re
tires and ma don't wake up. | hav
got friend working in Il jcwclr!
store, and got him to lend me six o
those little alarm clocks, and wount
them all up, and placed around tn
nouse where l could touch them OF
when pa came in. l put one on tn
hatrack, and when pa came i'll jus
after midnight l touched it off jus
as he put his hat on tn
hat rack and crcpt half way up stair
in the dim light. Pa was trying t
b. quiet, and when that alarm wer
off he looked sick. He didn't knoy
what it was but he just stood still
: with his Overcoat half off, and waite
f)r the the thing to run down, an
he was listening all the time to SC
ifma woke up. l had told ma
pretend to be asleep until the last On
went off, which had placed on tn
foot of the bed, and then for her {
get up and begin to throw chair
Pa started up stairs as soon as til
clock stopped, i'll his stocking fee
. and just as he got half way up stair