Delta chief., 1884-03-19
PECK,S BAD BOY AND HIS PA.
The Boy &. sick Bu, nj. Flag 4. strn Their

The BOY is Sick hut His Flag Is still There.
We'll, Hennery, I am sorry to find
you in this fix" said the groceryman
rs he tiptoed into the darkened room at
the house of the bad boy, where he
found him in bed. propped up with pill
lows. 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 were going along
in a solemn sort of manner. Don't
hurt you to talk to you, does it?" and
the groceryman looked for chair TO
sit down in.
Nav, it don't hurt" said the bad
boy, as he motioned to chair, and the
groceryman sat down. II talking would
Kill me would have been dead long
ago. BY the way. | wish you would
hand me that mustard plaster. You
will find il in the chair you are setting
on" and the boy smiled q sickly smile,
while the groccryman got up rs though
he was in n hurry. and apologized for
sitting on the plaster. mo apology
necessary" said the bad boy. when
ANYBODY comes to sec me they are well
come TO the best we have got. A soft
answer turneth away wrath. and mus
tard plaster covcreth a multitude of
pneumonia" and Henncry applied the
plaster to his chest, and asked the gro
ceryman to hand him box Of pills on
the table. The grocerymsn handed
the boy = box OF pills and glass Of
water. and he took q small handful of
pills and swallow Of water, smackcd
his lips and said.
"Ah! nectar fit for the gods. Do
you know there is something about be-
ing sick that takes the cake? You can
lay and sleep, or raise up and cough.
And then. the beautiful medicine the
doctor leavesl l take II because il
pleases the doctor. He is nice man.
but / don't think a man can feel of
your pulse and listen to the mocking
bird in your heart by holding his ear on
your shirt, and tell what Is the matter
with you. Gimme n drink. Now l
want you TO do some things for me, as
may not pull through. and pa is so
busy in politics that he can't attend to
anything. Are you there, Mortar
ityP"
Yes. ycs." said the grocerymcn. as
he saw the boy had something he want
ed TO say, .'out with IL now, and l 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 skatcs~to him..and tell him"
Great heavens" said the grocery
man, 'what do you want to send a pair
of skates to man that hasn't got any
legs forP"
Don't interrupt the speaker" said
the bad boy ms he took n pill for
change. Take the skates to him. and
tell him lend them to him till l get
well. He has got three boys, and they
are too poor 10 buy skates, and they
can take turns using mine, and shall
not miss them, for H live the skating
will be all gonc before get out doors,
and II die. there will be no skating
where am going"
30. say. hush up now," said the gro
ceryman. "You are 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
ont as good as now, making IL interest
ing for all of us. What was the hired
girl laughing at when she let me IMP
She said something about your soaring
the folks out of seven years growth.
Just before you were taken sick" and
the groceryman thought II he could get
the sick boy talking about something
funny IL would cure him.
"Well," said the boy, as he laughed
20 tho skin was drawn across his
pinched face, "It was awful mean,
but ma wanted to know what time pa
got home nights, since he has got to
working the ward for alderman. You
see, he comes in all times Of the night,
and tries tn keep still so rs not TO wake
ma up. He comes in and undresses in
the dark, and retires and ma don't
wake up. have got friend workin
in jewelry store, and 1 got him to
lend me six Of those little alarm clocks.
and wound them all up, and placed
them around the house where l could
touch thom off when pa came In. tput
one on tho hat rack, and when pa
came In just after midnight I touched
II off just as he put his hat on the hat
rack and crept half way up stairs In
the dim light. Pa was trying 70 be
Al. L.. xs,,vxt <S~ hn