The Opelousas courier., 1889-04-13

he cried q great deal. Then no Hept
again; but when no woke, the pain
was still there, and his head ached,
and he cried again. Then Sister came
and tried to soothe him. but he SCARCELY
needed her till she said: ''look at
your legs, Jim."
He dried his eyes, and Sister threw
off the bed-clothes-and there were two
straight legs tightly bandaged up be-
tween thin wooden boards, and slung
from an iron cradle. He gazed in
amazement.
That's right, dear; don't cry any
more, for yon are no longer Little Bow
legs. Drink some milk, and go to
Sleep"
For the next few days Jim was very
quiet; his leg--7ere rather painful'
and he had to lie fat on his back
always: Then gradully he got more
| cheerful than he had ever been in his
life before; he chatted with the other
children and played with the toys the
nurses gave him, and whenever his BE-
was made, he gazed a~nxiously at thos@
two straight legs in the wooden splints.
Did they really belong to him? Should
he ever stand upright on them and
walk like other boys? Mrs. MILAN
came constantly to see Jim, for she was
a good mother as East-end mothers ges
She was never cruel to the boy; she
was even kind to him in her W way;
but she never dreamed OF petting or
oaressing him.
"How's my bird, mother?" Jim
always asked.
"Oh, it's all right; v e so much bet
ter nor 1t was when you was always
foolin' it about. l reckon you'd better
sell it before next winter, though.
You'd get five shillings for it easy"
Jim had another plan in his mind,
but he kept it secret for the present.
At last, after many long days Of patient
waiting. came the anxious time when
the splints were to be removedS The
great surgeon himself was there to see
the result of his skill; and oh! with
what suspense Jim watched while
bandage after bandage was unrolled
and the bits of wood we're taken away.
He held his breath while MI. Pell Tay-
lor ran his hand over the thin little
legs aud then lifted first n and then
the other.
'.Yes, that's all right, Mr.. Roberts.
Wonderfully successful! Where are
those casts?"
Sister fetched the casts of the two
little bow-legs out of a cupboard, and
Mr.. Roberts put them side by side With
the two straight limbs which Jim was
cycling so anxiousfy. Were they really
his legsp He tried to nov one, and
it felt d~readfully heavy and queer, still
it did move a little, and certainly the
great surgeon seemed content.
Splendid! splendid!' he exclaimed.
1--WE must have a cast of the legs as
they are now, and keep both for com,
p~arison. Put a plaster of paris band
age on now but before the boy goes
out, be sure and take a cast"
ais it all right, Sister? Shall l be
able to walk on them?" whispered
Jim.
..Yes; it is quite right. You shall
run races and win them, in a week OF
two"
The next time Miss MILAN came
Jim told her the good pews with {
smile. Thezold grave ~esRression wa:
leaving his face, and he &aa always
laughing now.
II suppose you'll be home soonP'
said his mother.a
II s'pose SO. DO you think fatheI
would give me a cage for my bird
I've got tenpence here the doctors ant
people have gave me-"
.Bless me, child, you can keep II
bird where it is till you sell it."
But it's my very own bird, mother
; and / don't want to sell it. I want II
give it to the doctor what made N.
: legs straight"
You little stupid! he don't want
bird" .
/, please bring it next time, mother
and let me try"
Sister was rather dismayed 1heI
al she found a canary in full song locate
at Jim's bedside; but when she learn
what was in the boys mind, she wa
t greatly pleased. "A few days after
8 wards she came running down tn
ward; and none of the children ha
ever seen Sister run before. so the
called out: Hi! Sister!'-"Gclly
s look at Sister running!!" But Siste
: only smiled, and ran on till shereache
= jim, who was %sittint.i on a small chat
g with two crutches by his side. Siste
e seized the cage and put 1t In Jim
II hand and whisked away the crutches
y Just then Mr.. Pell Taylor entered tn
ward, followed by the usual crowd
students.
r "Now JIM" said Sister. walk
It meet him and offer him the-bird."
n Jim struggled to his legs and Wake
d down the ward, firmly and upright.
L till he met the great surgeon. "Ft
n you, SIR" said Jim. holding up Il
cage, "canse you have cured my band
legs.n-Chambers' journal.
- He Applied the Proverb.
le ..See here" said a big man, in