The San Francisco call., 1909-04-11
Ask Your Father!.''
Jack Is Cured of a Strange
lndisposition
By Tudor jerks

kyI CURE not looking well, Jack" said Mrs.
Townsend, gancing up from her accounts,
while she was trying to guess how much eight
times nine ought to be. why is it?'
"Oh, I've got kind of headache" exclaimed
Jack, yawnng and stretching his arms over his head
You've been reading too much" his mother said,
putting down Is in her book. "You ought to take
more exercise You've been in all the afternoon"
Il don't feel like it." Jack answered. 'Tm lazy
and I'd rather read"
"But your father said you looking pale and
told me to see that you went out oftener. Come put
down your book and take in the fresh air..
q don't think it's good for me-" Jack remarked
"Im father would say so, too, if he were here
"He isl was Mrs. Townsends reply. He came
home early and is downstairs If you like you
can ask your father
Seeing way out of it. Jack went slowly down
stairs, getting up thoroughly miserable look the
way BY the time he reached the door of his fathers
study Jack was believing that he not at all well
He knocked feebly.
Come in,7 was answered chcerfuly.
Jack dragged himself in one hand on his head and
the corners of his mouth drawn we'll downward.
well welll What's the trouble?' asked the father.
'You look poorly"
81 came down. Jack murmured
What? Speak up boy
81 came Jack said more loudly ito ask whether
/
"A right" was his fathers smiling But
it seems pity. In the first place, today is Friday
luckily, SO you won't lose any OF your lessons and
Il thought it Thursday Jack replied, and
somehow began to look little less miserable
NO said his father 'and is very unfortunate that
you have decided to stay at home tomorrow, Tor your
uncle has written offering take the whole family
for long ride in his automobile and
"Oh father exclaimed Jack with still more mar
velous Improvement, won't that be splendid In his
carr
81 believe so IN really sorry that you think you
must miss it. Perhaps | can invite
Nov, sec here" Jack broke in, you needn't pre-
tend that you're going take nc! I'm all right
honest. only. felt kind OF stufy and out OF sorts
You were boy yourself
Amazing said his father
Please don't And you know that fellow otter
feels too to 60 to school when he's all right te
have some fun. I'll be O. K. tomorrow, see if I'm
not!
81 did feel out of sorts when Icane downstairs
guess l was just bored-had been reading too long
perhaps. | think III go while and see if | car
find any of the fellows"
-"All right And you might get me few postag,
stamps at the drug store-f you are sure you cal
stand the strain of going so far
Don't, father" said Jack. Didn't you ever bes
off going to school when you were boys Even whel
you were not exactly sck?"
Come, Jack, if you are going to put me through
course of sprouts to find out just how bad boy
was-I shall beg off Besides, if you mean to repea
all my faults, and then add some of your own, yo,
never expect to be president"
I'm not looking for the presidency" said Jack
That's only what the books say Boys nowadays ar
looking for something else. I'm going to be hunter
guess You see, Roosevelts been president and he
glad to get away to Africa where they don't have
newspapers to bother him"
But he'll write up his trip suggested Mr.. Town
send.
"He say what he likes about that" Jack re
piled, and he departed with hop skip and jump tha
seemed remarkable when compared with his forlorl
entry into the ROOM
What marvellous curelp Mr. Townsend remarks
as the door closed.