River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-03-14
Wien CHARLEY
Caught the Cough

Ills Fond Parents had talked about
it for months, and when the
Child finally actually started for his
first day in the public schools, that
morning they felt that distinct step
in the worlds progress had been
taken. They watched him out of
sight from the front windows and
felt exceedingly proud Of the sturdy
little figure, topped by its closely
trimmed yellow hair. Nobody went
with the Child to school, because the
theory on which the Fond Parents
were working just then was to cult
vate as early as possible his indie
pendence and self-reliance.
The Child enjoyed it greatly. He
came home at night enthusiastic over
some of the new friends he had made.
'Reddy' Edwards" he assured his
Fond Mother, sis a great kid. l be-
long to his gang"
"What sort of boy is 'Reddy?'"
asked the Fond Mother.
Hes a big kid with red hair. He
kin lick any kid in the room. He
licked Fatty Rawlins at recess this
afternoon. Fatty bawled, and then
he started to cough. He coughed till
he got red and blue in the face, and
I'll bet he won't try to fool with any
of the kids in our gang again"
The Fond Mother, with maternal
intuition, felt sure at once that the
Child had been exposed to some
malignant disease, and told her hus
band so when he got home from hi!
day on the board of trade
Nonsense" said he. 1T couldn't
be anything worse than whooping
cough, anyway, and every boy has to
have that before ne amounts to any
thing. I'd be glad if Charley did
catch it,"
Ten days passed. Then Charley
woke up in the middle of the night
with a sore throat. He had never
been sick before, but his mother
knew in an instant what was the
matter with him. 1t was Group For
the six years of Charley's existence
she had been preparing for an emer-
gency of this kind Five distinct and
separate sure cures for Group were
on hand and within ten minutes the
family doctor had been reused by
telephone and had added his advice
on the situation.
"Ill come down in the morning"
he said. "unless something more de-
velops before Meanwhile follow my
directions"
Finally the Child got to sleep and
seemed much better when the doctor
came in the morning. After a fierce
struggle he allowed his mouth to be
pried open with a tablespoon while
the doctor gazed wisely down into
the exposed cavity.
''It's just possible" said the doc
tor, finally, "that it's whooping
cough. Keep him in the house few
days and wen see"
The idea seemed to amuse the
Fond Father greatly.
"Whooping cough, eh?" he said.
well, that's pretty good joke. isn't
it, doctor? Nothing much to do, is
there, except just to let the little
-cuss cough?"
The doctor expressed his opinion
that the disease was not likely to be
serious, though il might prove to be
tedious. Then he took his departure.
A few days later it developed so that
there was no longer any doubt. Lit
tie Charley showed himself possessed
OF an amount of lung power which
was surprising. Three or four times
a night he woke his parents and most
of the people in the fiat building with
a series of shrill and penetrating
whoops. which would have done cred
It to a siren steam whistle. After the
Fond Father had leaped suddenly ont
of his warm bed on an average of
six times each night for three weeks
It began to lose some OF it's humor-
Gus effect and grew somewhat mo-
notouous. He went TO see the doc
tor.
"Is there nothing we can do TO
stop the internal whooping?" he said.
i'There are 267 specifics for whoop-
ing cough laid down in the books. "
the doctor said with a smile. eve
might try some of them" Then he
wrote a prescription
Next day friend TO whom the
Fond Father told his troubles gave
him a certain remedy. He was to get
certain decoction of black tar and
sulphur and burn a pint Of it in the
sleeping rooms every night before
going to bed The Fond Father tried
it. lie thought he might as well
make the trial good and strong while
he was about it, so he got quart of
the stuff instead of pint and set it
going at ten o'clock His friend had