The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-16
THE BUBBLE BOY.

" "is' WI nv "uBuh u Sht
George Out of Every hit of Fun in Life.
BY CHARLES BArTELL LOOMS.
George Truesdell had been a 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 coming.
Mr.. Truosdell had gone to town with a load Of
cabbages-he was n farmer-and George knew
that when he came home and heard that he
had been naughty he would tell him sorrow
fully but firmly to 60 out in the woodshed and
he hated to think OF what would follow. IL
wish l had n 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 is that speck, rising out OF the birches.
southeast OF the road? Is it q COW? No. 1t
looks like n bubble as large as n pumpkin and
OF all the colors OF the rainbow. Then n gust
OF wind blows 1t into his room. 1t hits the
shade cord as 1t passes 1t and bursts. and.
presto. there stands n little fellow the exact
counterpart OF George.
"Hello! - said George. who are you?"
I'm n boy that loves to be punished. I love
hard work. Hove to study. love to he sent
to bed a half hour ahead OF time -
why. then. you're the fellow I'm looking
for" said George impulsively. because | hate
all those things. What'll YOU take to live up
here and got punished for me and do all my
hard work
IN do it for nv board and keep"
Bully for you! What's YOUR name?' said
George.
better call me George. as long ms that's
your name. I'm only two minutes old and |
hadn't thought OF n name. But you under
stand that your folks are not to know that Pm
here. Whenever I'm needed you'll hide and
III takc your place. The rest OF the time I'll
stay up here and hide under the bed II any
body comes into the room"
But won't you DO hungry and want exer-
else ~
"Oh. I'll exercise a, night and you can
smugglc food up to me. | won't need much"
Just then George looked out of the window
aud saw his father driving home in the OK
cart. His Gee. haw" foatcd through the calm
OF the October afternoon in a drowsy tone. But
George knew that the tone would be anything
but drewsy when he learned that the boy had
been naughty. and he groaned aloud.
What's the matter ?" asked his double. the
Bubble Boy.
"Oh. I've been bad and papa's going to fog
me-"
"Oh. let me be fogged instead. You don't
know how l long to feel a little pain. 1 think
I'll like it as much as you like pie"
George looked at him in establishment.
You're a queer fellow. 1t doesn't seem en-
actly right. but papa won't know the differ
ence. and I'm sorry l was naughty so you may
go down and get punished. and I'll stay up
| here
A few minutes later Farmer Truesdell drove
his team into the barnyard. unyoked the oxen.
leaving them to wander off down the lane.
Then he came into the kitchen where his wife
was preparing dinner. Hello. Molly! Sold
'em all early. People seemed hungry for cab
bages to-day. Those medicine Indians was on
the fiat and l bought n bow an. arrow for
George. He's ben, pesterin, me for one. an
s &c tG : nc g11 his birthday bought EN-,
Mrs. Truesdell shook her head. Hes up in
his room, where sent him; Hes been very
then to cap all he broke the pantry window,
throwing stones at the chickens. although l
Mr.; Truesdeli put the bow and arrow into the
tSas b5 Pas soms;eti inn a9n. said k" 2s. T Tf su Tsts iG IS
have to fog him"
Seth Trpesdell went to the foot of the attic
stairs and called George"
Come down" ,
R~leelully down the stairs, George took up his
station at his window. where he could COM
man a a y. Sie Eo OF tn thG to wo 6fL hmo,I, But u IL, trs don he
The double walked into the kitchen.
VI NY Sun u tSNlc.l i III SoIIy u
have to punish, you when l come home. but
pertinent a!nd disobedient. 80 come out into the
Out Ge" fS r ths d %sessb wifh S Mr' TI q wGrdij w Yak 3
nails and told the boy to hold out his hand
Up, in the window George was staring wildly
sssWish!, came the rod. ,Phew. what a re.
sounding thwaek! George heard i distinctly
WINGED. Four cuts OF the rod and then the
double aunG his Prms around ID Mr.; Trucsdell:
A good as pie as he had told George.
Mr.. TruesdelI, was overJoyed to think tina,
the boy could take his punishment in so gooc
Then the Bubble Boy went into the kitchen
and kissed Mrs; Truesdell and said. I'm sorr,
shs hai half repe,nted having told her hns
band ba,, ID n ,SU ho Geo s6oni,n mi SIDE EisaoG hE 70 sh'
said. Well. I'm sure Il won't occur again"
According to schedule. he should now have
dcrinG what was keeping him. but this Bubbl,
Boy,w was having too Gooh a time to go up into tn
smelt a good chicken dinner cooking, and. a
he had never eaten in his short life. he deter
mined TO stay and have something:
"Itli b, ready in ten minutes" said hi
the hens, and the. double. sat down by tn,
s snS 8 w WING vi Hp have Sni!!T nsnb IGng s. ssiS p IT, s0T r
seemed to have mastered small hoy dialect u
n Surprisingly. short space OF time. Hi
mother-she thought she was his mother. al
though. as we know he had no mother-gav
him an apple. and when dinner was served
soon after. no, ate three times. as much a
George. ever did and was so Jolly withal tina
Mr.. and Mrs. Truesdell didn't know what haC
come over their boy.
George. after dinner I wish you'd harnes
up Jack" said the farmer. I've got to driv
over to the Cages TO get a book on hens tina
he promised me. I'm going to give you som
hens and let. you see what you can make GU
OF them with the aid Of the book. Idon't TAX
much stock in hen books myself. I've AWAY
made EN- lay without any book. and | don't be
lieve but what hers laid before the first boo
was printed. but I'll give you something to b
Interested in and you won't be SO apt to breaI
windows II your time is more occupied"
The Bubble Boy smiled hut said nothing. II
was too busy with his third slice OF pumpkin
Eie to talk; After he had finished 1t he said
Can | ride over with yOu?'
"Idunno. Kinder late for you. Well, SEER
to-morrow's your birthday I'll lot you"
So ii happened that II few minutes later
George. who had been weeping in his room
not daring to go down and expose the trio
he had played upon his father. and yet feelin
very hungry and %contrite. heard n sound c
wheels in the ward and looked ont of IN