The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-02-25

sleep once in a while,' said Tommy unblushingly.
flow perfectly dreadful! In that case think
the best thing for you to do is to lie quiet and
sleep all day, and [ viii send note to your teach
er"
Tommy's heart bounded with JOY. Did she
really mean it. He glanced slyly at her out OF
one corner of his eye and when he that she
looked perfectly calm he was sure that she was III
earnest
In order to show how happy he was he began
to writhe and groan, but stopped suddenly when
mamma said: IF you in such pain, we had
better send for Dr. Pillsbury at once and have him
give you medicine"
ooh, no, mamma" began Tommy, III alarm.
I'm sure I'll feel all rght-cr, no-not all right,
of course, but lots betted if you will bring me a
cup of coffee with lots of cream and sugar IN 1T
and piece of toast, and some jelly, and poached
egg, and a cookie, and two pieces of fruit cake.
why, Thomas Algernon Whitley" said mann
ma, aghast Abreskfast like that would kill
horse"
Il just spose a bushel of oats and big pail
of water'd kill me, but if you want me to starve
will, only when papa was sick you cried cause he
couldn't eat, and said he'd never get well if he
didn't so | thought I'd force somethin down just
to please you" said Tommy, in abused voice,
Mamma went out of the and presently
returned with bowl of oatmeal, plentifully COW
Il think this will be better for a sick boy" she
said
After Tommy had eaten it all and scraped the
bowl with his spoon pulled down the
shades and went out,closing the door softly and
Tommy cuddled down under the covers, with
long sigh of perfect content
Il guess III be sick a whole week, maybe
month";" he thought to himself. He closed his eyes,
but for some reason he could not go to sleep again
1t seemed strange, for other mornings he knew he
could have slept all day. He imaniged the other
boys studying in school and thought how they
would envy him if they only knew.
He heard babys little pattering feet come to
the door and she tried to open it, but mamma hur-
ried after her.
No. darling, you mustn't go in there. our
brother is sick and we must let him rest
"She won't 'sturb me, mamma. Let her come III
while you wash the Dishes" said Tommy g2ner
ousy.
ooh no, dear. You must lie still and rest" 50
she shut the door and all quiet again
After hours and hours Tommy was sure it
must be almost night, he went to the door and
said HAS papa come home yet, mamma"'
Whatever put that idea into your head! Il
is only 10 o'clock. Go back to bed and try to
sleep"
Tommy crept back and tossed restlessly from
side of the bed to the other. Then he began
to see faces and animals in the figures the
ward the bed, and he fought them ard drove them
back. Then, after long while, he rubbed his eyes
and knew he had been asleep AMI dreaming.
Mamma, | think the bed is getting tired of
me. Shall [ sit up a while AMI let it rest"
But mamma laughed and told him oeds couldnt
get tired and sent him back again, for he tlcGght
the bed really did get tired of him. and it gave Il
bound and threw him right out on the floor. His
head struck against the chair and he began to cry
and mamma came in and helped him back and wet
a cloth i'll cold water and laid it his head.
When mamma was rocking the baby to sleep
she heard deep sigh, and, looking around, she
saw forlom little figure in pink pajamas at her
side, and he said trying to smile hopefully: Don't
you think it would make me stronger if l went out
doors and took some exercise, mamma"
1t cost effort to say firmly: No. in
deed. boy who is too sick to go to school is too
sick to play"
1t turned out to be the longest dag Tommy had
ever known, longer than all the other days of his
life put together but people say that the very
longest days end some time, and this one finally
did.
The next morning one little boy reached the
schoolhouse ahead of the others. His face was
very bright and shining from copious applica-
ton of soap and water, and his hair was brushed
until it could never get mussed again. When the
roll was called he answered to the name of Thorn
as Algernon Whtley.-Catholic Sun.