The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-15

happy-thc great fact about Tommy had
always been that he did not seem able
to keep still, even for minute. But
now Tommy had been sitting In chair
and had not spoken for at least ten
minutes. Ten minutes OF quiet, unless
he was asleep. was long time in Tom
my's life.
Grandpa was reading his paper. and
he put It down and looked at Tommy.
Are you keeping still on n wager" he
asked. He thought perhaps Uncle John
who was n nervous man, had offered
Tommy some money If he would sit down
and not speak a word for certain length
OF time.
Tommy said NO. sir"
w nat ails you, then?"
Nothing"
Grandpa put his glasses on again and
went TO reading his paper There was
something about the revival of trade that
Interested him: he didn't seem TO feel so
worried about Tommy as the rest of the
family did.
Soon grandma put down her knitting
work and went over where Tommy was,
and she asked: Dear little Tommy do
YOU feel ill?' 7 was afraid when | saw
you eating three pieces Of that rich cake
that you'd be SICK
Did he eat three pieces OF that rich
that IS what is the trouble with him.
III run upstairs and get some medicine
for your stomach. Tommy, this very
minute"
mo, mamma, I don't want any medl-
cine"
But you must be a good boy and swal-
low 1t right down. and 80 to bed as quick
~ as you can"
There isn't anything the matter with
my stomach mamma. the matter Of me
isn't in my body anywhere"
"Oh, the child, shure now an it must
be that somebody been hurting his feel
'ngs BE after telling Bridget all about
II. and she'll make YOU AS foine a little pie
tomorrow as was ever baked In the stove
over"
But Tommy only looked at Bridget
with an appealing glance, and put both
his hands In his pockets
Then his little sister Grace came across
the room and put her arm around his
neck and kissed him and whispered IN
his ear: I'm 50 sorry you feel bad,
Tommy"
This was TOO much for Tommy, and
/ he burst out crying and ran right up
stairs. His mother ran up after him. and
when she went into his room she saw
/ him lying on the floor CRYING out loud.
somewhat ne said: I'm not sick one
bit, mamma, anywhere but in my heart.
my heart is just as II IL was all swelled
up and going 10 burst"
Then Tommy told him mother all about
II, and what do you think il was? Tom
my's little sister Grace. had a small play
house which grandpa had built for her
right under the large apple tree in the
corner near the house. She had been
cleaning it up that day. had hung new
pictures on the wall. and grandma had
made n pretty rug for her TO spread on
the floor. She had washed the dishes be
longing TO her little tea set. and put them
IN order on the shelves. Rosabel and
Claribel her twin dolls. were dressed in
their best and sitting in their respective
chairs. The next morning Graces little
cousins were coming to spend the day
with her. and were going 10 bring their
dolls.
Tommy had struck up quite an init
macy with Sam White. who lived on the
adjoining farm. Sam was three years
older than Tommy. There were some Of
Sans ways that grandpa didn't like: he
;old grandma that he wished Tommy had
not taken such liking to that Sam
White. not that they knew anything es-
pecially bad of Sam. only he didn't seem
to have any manners, and acted as IL
what he didn't know wasn't worth
knowing II his elders were talking on
any subject. Sam would give his opinion
on the subject Of the discussion In pert.
decisive tones that would indicate that
he thought his opinion was settler Of
the argument You know such boys are
not very apt TO win the respect OF their
elders.
Sam and Tommy had been together all
. a. lHfff a. L..
/ shit OF Graces playhouse.
Your sister is having a real cleaning
/ up time said sam.
Yes said Tommy. her cousins are
coming over from Maplewood TO play
/ with her tomorrow"
How silly girls are" said Sam. play
| Ing with dolls and such things wouldn't
/ II be fun TO play a trick on them. When
/ 1t begins 10 be dark. let's go and hide the
dolls and the dishes and tumble things
all about at skies and sevens"
Tommy didn't quite approve OF such
doings. and he didn't understand how
70 fix things at skies and sevens. but
Sam was such persuasive boy. and
older and bigger than Tommy. that he
soon got the little fellow 10 help him in
/ the scheme.
II was all very well while Sam was
/ with him helnng the trick. but after Il
/ was done and Sam had gone home and
} the darkness had come Tommy. who
loved his little sister Grace 50 dearly
began 10 realize what he had done. and
| that was what was the matter with Tom
my.
"Oh. dear" said Tommy. "ff # only
wasn't dark and could fix IL all up again
/ before Grace sees IL, l am so awful
sorry"
Mamma and Tommy slipped down the
back stairs You know mothers always
seem 10 find a way 10 fix up things that
have gone wrong and make them right
again She lighted grandpa's lantern.
and after a short time the little play
house was put in perfect order. Poor
/ Rosabel and Claribel had never heen
sena-ated 60 long and so far In their
/ lives. Clarihel was hidden IN the hay
/ NOW in the barn. and Rosshel In the
carriage house under the green lap
4 blanket In the surrey. The dishes were
under the little foot-bridse that crossed
/ the brook
Then mamma and Tommy went ND the
back stairs again. and Tommy hathed
/ his face and hands and brushed his hair,
and he looked IKE an entirely different
/ hov. He went down the front stairs with
a bound lust as he had always done be-
/ fore and plaved with the doc and every
/ few minutes he stopped TO give Oracle a
kiss GRANDPA looked up over his paper.
and grandma smiled At mamma. and
Bridget looked in through the door and
said "col hess the hve' Shure he's
himself again And the chore boy whist
led IN the Kitchen and threw an arm
riil of wood into the wood box. and said.
whats the matter with Tommy? Oh,