Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-08-26
\ WhoOping.C Cough Picnic.

Johnnie-Boy wanted picnic. and
was sure he couldn't be happy without
it, for wasn't next Thursday his birth
day. and hadn't he always had birth
day picnic? But mamma shook her
head and said it would never do in
the world. and Aunt Lou said: "Why,
who ever heard of such thing!'
Then JOhnnie-bOy just couldn't help
it-even if he was going to be Z years
old next Thursday-he just went out
back of the house and cried. He lean
ed up against the kitchen wall-Tm
afraid he mussed some Of Norah's
vines, as he did it--and the great big
tears rolled down his cheeks, as he
said
We'll, | think it too bad! Having
the whooping-cough is bad enough,
but not to have n picnic is worse!r'
Then the first thing he knew, mann
ma had her arm around him, and she
was pretty near crying, too.
but don't you see, Johnnie boy"
said mamma, that if you invited Char
lie and Willie and Lucy and Nell. and
all your little friends here, that may
be they would all get the whooping
cough, too, and then you'd be feeling
awful bad, wouldn't your
Yes, ma'amw said Johnnie boy. be-
tween two big sobs, and without any
enthusiasm.
I'm tell you what We'll do said
mamma, lust as soon as you are well
enough, We'll have a picnic. and call
it your birthday picnic, even if your
birthday is past"
But Johnnie-boy shook his head. and
said that it would be no fun. unless it
came upon his really, truly birthday.
Then mamma thought little bit, and
finally said
We'll. We'll try and celebrate the
day in some manner, even If we have
to invite only children who have had
the whooping cough. Never mind.
.Johnnieboy, Wen have picnic Of
some kind
Then Johnnie-boy threw his arms
around mammals neck. and cried hard
err than ever. l suspect he felt that he
had not acted as much like a man as
big boy nearly years old ought, but
it was a pretty hard case.
The nrxt day Johnnie-boy said to
mamma:
'Haye you thought Of the kind Of
picnic we're going to have?"
And though mamma only smiled at
him, Johnnie-boy knew that it was
all right. He kept talking to Aunt Lou
about it. and as the day went by, he
became more anxious, until he finally
said:
II believe whooping- cough picnic Is
better than the other kind, for it keeps
it's going to be-"
On Thursday morning; mamma told
him that the picnic would be in the
afternoon from 2 till 5. and Johnnie
boy could hardly wait for o'clock to
come around. But the time did finally
come. and with 1t Raymond and Har-
old. who mad had the whoOping-cough
last year. Johnnie-boy was very glad
to see them, and ran to the door and
shouted:
Come in, you're the first ones to
come.
Then Raymond and Harold laughed
because they knew that there was no
one else coming.
Just as they got into the house. the
telephone-b rang. and mamma said:
.Johnnie-boy. will you answer the
telephones!
Johnnie-Doy looked little bit sur
arised. for he was not In the habit OF
goin gto the telephone, but he excused
himself to his little friends, and went
to the telephone. And this is what he
heard:
"Hello. Johnnie-boy, IL that you:
This is Willie talking. How are YOU!
DO you like to have the whoopiug-
.cughy'
Then another voice said: ASK him
when he can come our to play again."
and still another voice said: 'Iell
him we wish him many happy returns.
Of the day and then 70 many voices
began to talk all at once, that johnnie
boy could not tell what eny q them