Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-16
THE MEAsLE SONG.

LIE MCskAAokE SO&NSs
Richard had suppressed measles. This
means that the specifies don't come out on
your skin. but stay inside and make you
very uncomfortable. Perhaps they COMB
out on your temper instead. Richards did.
I win not say that he was crosser than a
crab. for any self-respeoting crab would
blush az red as though he had been boiled
at the comparison.
Richards family tried to amuse him.
They had to keep the room dark. because
the light hurt his eyes; but his grand
mother sat beside a chink in the blinds and
read aloud to him out OF the Trotty books.
while he lay ddgeting and groaning. and
tossing the bed clothes Off. and teasing for
drink. His auntie brought him some nice.
hot lemonade. and he made such fuss over
It that you would have thought 1t was
castor Oil they were coaxing him to swal-
low.
His big sister came in with his bag Of
marbles. and they played a new game.
Every marble had name. The biggest OF
all, glass alley, was Constable Dunk. and
small mig was the Little Green Thief.
The Constable chased the Little Green
Thief, found him hidden in a fold OF the
bed clothes. and carried him of to prison
In grandma's work basket. Two real agates
were Mr.. and Mrs. Swiss-Family Robinson.
and lot of china alleys were their chill
dren.
Sister had to tell all the things that hap
pened to those children that are not writ
ten down in the book, how Ernest SWISS
Family-Robinson, though good boy In the
main, had one bad trait, disobedience, and
now this led him into many adventures.
Then Richard was hungry and called for
cream cakes. but they could only bring him
soft-botled eggs. When he sat up to eat
them he gave the bed clothes a great flop,
yyif fhn yroc q n0af
into the bed. Sister had to come again and
tell about Exmelia. the worst little girl
that ever was. and how little Ed, with his
peaked hat and his flop-toed shoes, came
and carried her away to his roofiess house.
where the rain falls in, and the wolves howl
loud, and Headless Eye pursues you
vo aun rdf had to ,a sing Why Phoebe Have
song, so that Richard finally fell asleep
On the next day Richards eyes began to
hurt II they opened the blinds, and when the
room was darkened he couldn't tell the Lit
tie Green Thief from Ernest Swiss Family
Robinson. Everybody tried to think of new
stories. but he snapped at them all. from
grandma to nurse Finally he lay on his
pack and waved his legs In the air and
howled.
''Oh, dear. what shall we do?" cried grand
ma. if he doesn't keep himself covered up
he will take cold. and then his measles
never will come outr'
Richard. do stop bowling and keep warm,
like good boy, and I'll buy you that blow
gum" said his mother.
But Richard still kicked the bed clothes
away and howled louder than ever.
Don't pay any attention to him." said
sister. and then everybody went out Of the
room and left him bowling like a jackal in
the desert. Only sister stayed and she was
picking up the marbles and talking to her.
self. Richard went on bowling, but his
howls were in a softer key, for he wanted
to hear what she was saying. 1t sounded
IKE poetry, but she wasn't saying 1t to him.
This is what he heard:
my throat is sore and my eyes are red.
I've dreadful pain in the top Of my head;
feel as bad az bad be,
But my measles won't come out on me
BY this time Richard stopped bowling
long enough to ask: What Is that?'
That" said his sister, rs the Measle
Song"
who made it?"
Il am making it."
rs It about me?" ., ,.
Yes"
rs there any more Of itr' -----.
There will be, when you have pulled up
the bed-clothes."
Richard stopped waving his legs, and
pulled the blankets up to his very chin.
some more" So sister went on:
They will not allow me to wave my legs.
- u Inc feed me nothing but ft-boiled eggs,
But my measles won't come out on me-"
Richard actually giggled. go on about
how bad l feel" he commanded. and sister
went on:
There's not an Inch In my whole concern
That doesn't SILVER ache burn.
wish to goodness you'd let me be-
Since my measles won't come out on me-
Now tell how badly act" said Rich
ard.
II thrash about like acrobat;
III not eat this and I'll not drink that.
No boy could behave like the cherubim
II his measles wouldn't come out on him.
Here's the doctor to see you, Richard"
said his mother.
Now, suppose we have little light and
take look at this young gentleman" said
the doctor. Well, we'll! You couldn't
suppress those measles any longer. Here
they are
Am I speckled?' cried Richard, in
great excitement.
You are thoroughly speckIed," said the
doctor, land now 1 believe you'll feel bet
ter"
1T was the poetry!' said Richard ut
Dna da nv mos sIes ont