Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-02-22

drawing out wise remarks on every
thing and trotting here and there on al
errands bent.
swell, Billings" remarked Mr.. Ash
ton as he brought up his shaving watel
one morning, "do you go to school?"
"Ye-es, sir" replied Billings, standing
on one foot; 81 do, sir. Have you gaw
any speakin' books?''
"Whaty' qaeried Ashton.
"Speakin' books, sir" said Billings
slowly, "that you can speak pieces
FROM"
'Eh-no-that is, yes, think have
Billings" was Toms answer, as though
he generally carried a lot around witt
him. "I'll get you one."
"Tha.ank you, sir" and Billings edget
out of the room on tiptoes, while Ton
Immediately wrote to New York for tn,
desired volume.
One morning Billings appeared will
the remnant of an old flannel shirt tieG
around his neck, and his legs seemed tt
drag slowly behind him.
II really do believe that Billings II
SICK" said some one at breakfast, anC
deep concern fell upon the faces of all
was the proverb to be true?
Even Ashton looked worried and was
particularly profuse in his offers to de
something. AS the day passed on Bill
lipgs grew more and more miserable anC
even seemed to be paler. Ashton would
have called attention to this phenomenon
did he not re fleet that it would meet with
q general denial followed by lecture
upon his levity. Just before the dinner
bell rang Billings was discovered seated
on the back steps in an attitude betoken
ing abject disgust with all things of life
scarcely needing the questions poured
upon him by the anxious group.
"What is it, Billings?" was the chorus
and, leaning back and closing his eyes
Billings answered, ell dunno, M
"Tom! Where's Tom ?"was the gen.
eral cry, while some one in authority
ordered the light wagon to be hitched w
at once.
"Well?" queried Mr.. Ashton, emerg.
ing fri m the dining-room, where he had
been patiently waiting.
"Tom," cried Her mother, as Thomas
appeared, "the light wagon will be here
Immediately. l want you to take this
poor child into DIR. Barlow's at once-he
is very ILL.,"
"Before dinner?" asked Mr.. Ashton,
and the looks which he received were
sufficient answer; so he departed for his
gloves, and by the time he had returned
the wagon was ready. Billings was too
i'll to protest as Ashton lifted him in his
pity as he propped the little form up on
the seat.
"Hurry, Tom, please cried Nan and
the horse galloping at times, Billings
x,o rroo1 o,,I cbiftoI hic v>oo;t{op
"Better, Billings" asked his driver.
"Yes, sir" was the reply and Billings
sat up.
''Wbat's the matter?" asked Tom. SIN
what way do you feel sick?'
81 got misery here" said Billings,
placing his hand on his waistband. ''and
I feels awful sleepy"
"Were you sick last nights" asked
Tom, persistently.
mo, sir" replied Billings; event
coon hunting"
"Ha!" cried the young man.
"Yes, sir" drawled Billings. much re-
vived by the drive. "Gawt two coons.''
"Well, what have you been doing TO-
day?" questioned Tom.
"Taklnr med cine" said Billings.
"What! Taking medicine? Where
did you get it,"
'sI'his mornin' right after breakfas, -
explained Billings, "Miss Nan, she call
me up an say mus be sick, so she give
Inc some pills what was white. Her
mother, Miss Mary, after a while made
me drink some pink med cine, an Miss
Grace she took me in the dinin'-room an
tole me to swaller white powder N water
dat was awful, an Miss Car'line, when |
took some wood up to her room, he'd
some more pills for me, cause she say |
look real bad. Den Miss Lizzie she
bring me some yalIer med cine in a cup
an Miss jimmie foller me out to the
smoke house with more pills, an dis
remember what the others give me.''
Tom burst into roar of laughter
Didn't you tell any of them that you
already had taken some medicine?" ht
asked.
"No, SIR" replied Billings solemnly
81 never did jes' took 'em cause they
tole me to-"
"Great Caesar!" cried Tom, still shak
ing with laughter. "And were you no,
bit sick! What's the matter with you
neck?'
"Hornet stung me this mornin'," ex
planned Billings, putting his hand up tt
the rag, '.an' l stuck some mud on it
Whar'm l goin'?"
"Fm going to take you home, Bill
ings," said Tom, land you can have
holiday. Do you feel all righty'
"Yessit-jes' little sleepy. Who'll
milk the cows?"
"We'll get Abner to do that" replied
Tom, land you needn't come back unit
tomorrow morning. Understand? 2"
"Yessir," said Billings, who did no
quite understand the situation after all
but nevertheless accepted it.
Tom chuckled like d-mon on his wa
home, until he came within sight of tn
lower gate and saw Nan waiting for hir
then he grew fearfully grave.
''What is ~ she cried as Tom cam
up.
'Well, don't know exactly what the
call it," returned Tom solemnly, helpin
Nan into the wagon, "but a little NOR
} and he might have died."
sob, Toni
J "Yes-and then how would you hav
, felt?' TJm said. sits lucky for 70
he's still alive"
LUCKY for mel" cried Nan. "whs
J did dos"
"You started it." was Toms answer
} "You and every other woman in tn
house dOspd the pOOr object surrant