Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-12-08
I. JOHNNY'S
|. SYMPTOMS

- = a - A. ~
;:.....:...:......
.nc. vas ro co--t that something
was tla matter oith Johnny The
heart Z. his mo.her stood still for
one pcn.c-stncken second.
Ne. mother" he said when she car
ricd the piece OF pie to him out in
The back yard Il don't care for 1t.
/ don't feel like eating"
And this at o'clock In the after
noon, when usually be was ravenous.
Does your heal ache?" she asked.
| anxiously. Johnny wriggled and con-
sidered He kicked the toy rake With
| which he had been industriously pill
Ing up gravel and then shook bis head
In question
No, not exactly" he told her. But
my head feels awful queerl | feel
queer In most parts OF me- shouldn't
wonder II was going to be awful
sick!'
Goodness gracious. Johnny" cried
his mother. Tell me Just how you
feel and where It hurts!"
Nothing hurts, exactly" her son
said. That is. nothing that know
the name of. But I feel awful funny
! don't think feel like walking clear
to Mrs. Smiths with that package you
asked me To-"
| You'd better come right into the
house and lie down." said his mother.
TIL cover you up with the new
afghan"
"Yes'm," said her son, obediently,
thus further alarming his parent
She lowered over him with hot lem
onade and other delectable things un-
I'll his father came home The in
valid on the library couch could hear
the indistinct murmur of their voices
from the front hall, where his mother
had stopped his father to tell him the
news
Il can't imagined" his mother was
saying. He's been so well all sum
mer up at the farm and has played
and eaten like six boys instead of one
and ever since we got home two
days ago he's been acting so queer
and mopy-no energy or noise! |
thing we'd better have the doctor I'M"
Johnnys father came in with an
ostensibly cheerful air and stood by
the couch, "Hello!" he said as he
rested his fingers on his sons fore
head whats this | hear? Why.
you're not sick-you're fooling!"
Johnny regarded him with reproach-
full eyes. II feel awful queer" he re-
peated. Kinda sick and--and fun.
ny"
He hasn't any fever" said his faith.
er to his mother, land his eyes look
all right. Still, of course, you can't
tell about a child I'll just phone DR.
| Bilpacker-"
There was a wall from the couch
81 don't want DR.. Bilpacker!" Johnny
cried 81 don't want any horrid old
doctor!"
"You see" said his mother, "how
nervous he is? That's totally unlike
himself! I'm sure something serious
is the matter with him! Now, John
ny, the doctor won't give you any bit
ter medicine. It will have Sugar ali
! over it and you won't mind It at all
! There was a positive howl of pro
/ tost from the couch The volume OF
lohpny's cries held no hint of weak
ness. Ey sEa.g.g
81 simply can't understand hlml"
JOhnuy's mother said. on the verge of
tears,
Johnnys father sat down determin-
/ edly and grasped one rebellious small
hand "Now, son." he said, tell faith
! er all about It,"
I They amt noth-nothin' to tol
Johnny shifted
Well can you think of ANYTHING
you want that would make You feel
better? Just tell me what the uou
BILE IS"
/ The inyalid's eyes roamed from .he
ceiling to the mantel and then met his
'ather's gaze for a brief secynd
There IS somethin," he admitted. 81
think It would make me we'll"
"What?" demanded both parents. IN
a breath.
Johnny gulped, and then spoke very
rapidly 81 think I need to go back
to the farm and help Andrew dip out
gopher holes an ride the old horse
an fish an everything! And | think
I'd better start early next Monday"
Johnny's father. after brief pause.
tured his head over his shoulder and
spoke low to Johnnys mother: School
begins next Monday, you know-the
little imp!"
Then he arose and grinned down at
his invalid son. "See herel" he said