The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-06-16
The Bubble Boy.
BY Charles B. Loomis.

n EORGE IRUESDELL had been a
II naughty boy. His mother had said
that as soon as his father came home he
was to be punished. George sat in his
little attic room and looked anxiously
out of the window for his fathers COM
ing
Mr.. Truesdell had gone to town with
load of cabbage-he was a farmer
and George knew that when he came
home and heard that he had been
naughty he would tell him sorrowfully
but firmly to go out in the woodshed,
and he hated to think of what would
follow. After that, however, the skies
would be clear. But that little five
minutes was what bothered him.
II wish I had twin brother who
didn't mind a licking, and then when I
cut up papa'd attend to him and think
it was me-
What was that speck rising out of the
birches, southeast of the road? Is it a
COW? No; it looks like a bubble as
large as pumpkin and of all the COL
ors of the rainbow.
Then gust of wind blows it into his
room. 1t hits the shade cord as it
passes it and bursts, and, presto, there
stands little fellow the exact coun-
terpart of George.
"Hello!" said George; ''who are you p"
I'm boy that loves to be punished.
l love hard work. I love to study.
love to be sent to bed half-hour ahead
of time
'Why, then you are the fellow I'm
looking for" said George, impulsively,
because I hate all those things.
What'll you take to live up here and
get punished for me and do all nv
hard work?''
It'll do it for my board and keep"
"Bully for you. What's your name?"
said George.
Better call me George, as long as
that's your name. I'm only two min
utes old, and I hadn't thought of
name. But you understand that your
folks are not to know that I'm here.
Whenever I'm needed you'll hide and
I'll take your place. The rest of the
time I'll stay up here and hide under
the bed if anybody comes into the
room. You can smuggle food up to me.
I won't need much.''
Just then George looked out of the
window and saw his father driving
home in the OK cart. George groaned
aloud.
"What's the matter?' asked his
double, the Bubble Boy.
20, I've been bad, and papa's going to
fog me.''
20, let me be logged instead. You
don't know how I long to feel little
pain. [ think I'll like it as much as you
like pie"
A few minutes later Farmer Irues-
dell went to the foot of the attic stairs
and called: "George!'
Georges double, with never a word,
walked out to the woodshed. Mr.. Trues-
dell took birch rod down from it's
resting place on two nails, and told the
boy to hold out his hand. Up in the
window George was staring wildly, and
feverishly breathing.
Phew, what resounding thwack!
George heard it distinctly. He would
have cried out, but his double never
WINGED. Four cuts of the rod, and
then the double flung his arms around
Mr.. Truesdell's neck and Rugged him.
THANK you, thank you," said he. It
had been pleasure to him. ''As good
as pie" as he had told George ,,-
Mr.. Truesdellwas somewhat surprised
at this outburst, but he loved George
dearly, and was overjoyed to think that
the boy could take his punishment in so
good spirit, so he returned the caress.
Then the Bubble Boy went into the
kitchen and kissed Mrs. Truesdell and
said: I'm sorry was naughty"
According to schedule he should now
have gone upstairs to relieve George,
who was wondering what was keeping
him, but this Bubble Boy was having
too good time to 60 up into the hot
little room. He saw cake and pies and
he smelled a good chicken dinner cook
ing, and as he had never eaten in his
short life, he determined to stay and
have something. y.g....... t.,..... &f - q :
Mr.. Truesdell had gone out to feed the
hens, and the double sat down by the
kitchen window and shifted longingly
at some apples. B
IN I'll have maple ?" said he. He
seemed to have mastered small boy dia-
lect in a surprisingly short space Of
time. His mother-she thought she was
his mother gave him an apple, and
when dinner: was served soon after, he
ate three times as much as George ever
did, and was SO jolly that Mr.. and Mrs.
Truesden didn't know what had come
lover their boy;