St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-04-13
Wien CHARLEY
Caught the Cough

is Fond Parents had talked about
i 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 culti-
vate rs early as possible his inde-
pendence and self-reliance.
The Child enjoyed 1t greatly. He
came home at night enthusiastic over
some of the new friends he had made.
"Reddy' Edwards he assured, his
Fond Mother, "is great kid. be-
long to his gang" gsta ttyg
what sort of boy is sReddy?'" Z"
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
FLA hat AA
Child had been exposed to some
malignant disease, and told her hus-
band so when be got. home from his
day on the board of trade. SIS
"Nonsense," said he. "It couldn't
be anything worse than whooping
cough, anyway, and every boy has to
have that before he 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.
.I'n 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 tablespoon while
the doctor gazed wisely down into
the exposed cavity.
ats Just possible" said the doc
tor. finally. '.that it's whooping
cough. Keep him in the house a few
days and Wen see"
The idea seemed 10 amuse the
Fond Father greatly.
"Whooping cough, eh?" he said
s.well, that's pretty good joke, isn't
II. doctoro 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 it 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
lie Charley showed himself possessed
of an amount of lung power which
was surprising. Three or four times
n night he woke his parents and most
of the people in the fiat building with
q series Of shrill and penetrating
wboops. which would have done cred
Il IN a siren steam whistle. After the
Fond Father had leaped suddenly out
of his warm bed on an average OF
six times each night for three weeks
y beran to lose some of its humor-
cns effect and grew somewhat mo-
notonous. He went 10 see the doc
tor.
..Ts there nothing we can do to
stop the internal whooping? he said
.There are 267 specifics for whoop.
;no cough laid down in the books, =
the doctor said with smile. 1--WE
might try some Of Them. Then he
wrote a prescription.
Next day a 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 pint of it in the
sleeping rooms every night before
Going to bed. The Fond Father tried
+ He 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
po;np at ten O'Clock. His friend had
warned him that the odor might
seem unpleasant at first but they
would soon get used to it, and before
the cough was cured they would get
so they would like it. But for this
warning it is doubtful if either OF
the Fond Parents could have staid
in the neighborhood after the remedy
began to throw on its clouds OF thick
and sitting black vapor. 1t spread
and penetrated all through the fiat,
and it was two hours before any
member of the family could get to
.sleep. Halt an hour later they were
reused by d furious ringing at the
front door. The Fond Father rushed
to the door in his bath robe and