St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-05-29


the dainty cottage he had planned So
often these last months, since the
promise of early summer had shown
such abundant fulfillment in the ripen
ing fields. The crop-the crop! Who
said 1t was spelling? 1t was all right
Fe would begin on 1t today when he
had drink. He could drink the we'll
dry. He fumbled clumsily with the
bedding and essayed to rise. but fell
back inertlv. little foolish smile on
the parche1 lips. His head was so
big, He had not known ones head
could be so big and heavy And the
crop? The crop was all right He
would build the cottage-for-for Liz
zie. I.izzie He cried out hoarsely,
with pang of anguish at the sudden
dull recognition of his loss. There was
no Lizzie for him-none--none-n
had been. What mattered the crop?
Let 1t spoil. What mattered anything
now z-i-e-bird age-Eiz-
Eie Brad-Liz? He scowled impatiently
He could not get the name right His
head was so big. He was so hot
burning
Mother, Where was mother? Was
she in the fiery lake that Elder Wat
son had so scared the little boys with?
He hadn't meant to be bad boy
mother knew-she would keep him. but
he was so hot-burning! Water. water!
Lizzie-L Lizzie Bradley Lamson Liz
sie Bradley? Lamsonl The perplexed
look deepened to frown of pain and
trouble. He had found her name, and
as he drifted further and further from
consciousness he carried her name with
him back to little boyhood. tangling it
with his brothers.. but never losing it
entirely again. Lizzie Bradley -Lamson
be careful Davy-mother said not to
go so near the bonfire-but he did. Joe,
the careless one-and now he was
burning, burning-m other-Lizzie Brad
leyLamsOn.
"Oh, you poor, poor boy. Bring some
water, quick"
Did some one speak, or was it-again
the little, foolish smile cracked the
parched lips He had known mother
would come-she always did when her
boys were hurt, even if they did it
carelessly themselves-but she did not
know how big his head was or she
would not try to lift it, Oh he was at
the old spring drinking drinking!
"He must not have too much at once
the poor boyw A warm rain fell upon
his face; the cup vanished his cropping
trembling hands could not find it, How
could he have too much when he was
burning? That wasn't fair Davie
when his head was so big that he
couldn't run.
The brute-the perfect brute, to go
off and leave him like this! Never
even get him waterw
Was that father? No; Tige had not
hurt him 1t was the fire-and heed
less Joe-where was the spring-and-
the cup. There! Mother was bathing
his burning head and face and neck,
his hands and arms. He smiled at her
and whispered Good" and again the
warm rain dropped upon him, and his
big heavy head was lifted and laid
why, it must be the cool, damp moss
above the spring! 1t was heavenly!
If it was not for the dreadful some
thing that hurt so about Lzzie-Liz-
zie Bradley Lamson-he could Lizzie
Bradley Lamson--Liz
Il don't know that any of us can say
much for ourselves Let such a sick
man lie here alone for days-never
come near him, so busy hustling for
the dollars--but all the same, Lamson's
brute, with less feeling than hog!
And the thought that LizZie'd-faugh!'
Don't say that, Joe Harris! Can't
you understand? Lamson liedw Liz
zie- Bradley-Lamson-
"Oh. never mind, mother. He's too
light headed yet. But the fever is cool
ing. and the doctor'll be here soon.
Look out yonder. Ben's got a crowd,
all right! Joe's grain II be in the stack
in short order and it isn't hurt yet,
not an atom, in spite Of Lamson's
know it all verdict
Lizzie Bradley Lamson-he was hurt
Did Lizzie Bradley Lamson = no, he
wouldnt-wouldn't put out his tongue.
1t was too stiff and big, like his head.
And he wouldn't have a spoon in his
mouth.
"Here, young man, you take this!
Swallow it. Do you hear? Some one
shook him slightly, with the order, and
he swallowed and grinned and said il
was Davy's cough drops, and it was
| Lizzie Bradley Lamson who-who made
! the fire. Was that little Sis who cried
out sharply and sobbed? Davy mustn't
| hurt little Sis He, Joe, was all right
only Lizzie.
"Oh, shut up" the gruff one com
handed I'm the doctor, and say
for you to drop it and go to sleep"
There was mother again, with the
gourd from the spring. and he drank
and drank till they took it away, and
then he slid down and down and out
where there was only cool, quiet
| Darkness.
1t was late the next day. The sun
was sending its level rays across the
door when Joe Harris came to himself
and looked about with calm and
growing consciousness.