The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-02
Wonnan's Page of The Times-Dispatch
MEASLES

"Measles-have you had emf" 10 the
last word about town Just now ana ~ -
perfectly fascinating 20 see the vital
interest that the children have taken I'm
1t and their vague ideas concerning
what IL is really all about. In kin
dergarten this past week, when the
teacher smiled into the face OF the
school and the goldfish in the window
and the night-blOOming cereus down BY
the piano and said, Children. I've got
surprise for you" one little girl
cIa led her hands and danced
i know what il IL, / know what 10
is" she cried, Its measles g.
You see. she had heard so much abous
il At home and from the teacher that
had sat on the front row at DIR. Levy's
little talk on the subject and she was
simply dying TO see what it looked like
And there was another little girl IN
that same class that, when the teacher
had diligently and many times con-
suited her pamphlet on the disease ana
had finally announced that she had 1T
on 'em q" whichever 10 is. declared
wildly that she had had lt--yesterday:
But when you come 70 think of IL and
look back upon your own case It was
really a charming occasion AFTER the
fret few days. when you felt nke tne
bed was a whilring platform situated
on the most unstable and WORLDLY OF
oceans and your own dear head weighed
a hundred thousand pounds, things
began 20 brighten. There seemed al
ways an obliging relative that held you
in her lap and rocked monotonously
20 and fro and told you about
Dog. dog bite pig.
Pig won't get over the stile.
And I shan't get home tonight
The room was so dark. and three or
the other children had It too. and you
had the satisfaction of knowing that
besides your family, there were two
others on the square all taken down tho
same day. and neither could they go to
Sally Hunts party that Friday IL
wasn't so very long ago, and yet you
STAYED in that semi-darkness for a
long time 1t seemed months and
months. and you drank only hot things
for fear that your measles would go
in" Something that you didn't III
the least understand. but 1t SOUNDED
dreadful and all the charms of the
water pitcher on the nursery mantel-
piece coulnd't lure you to chance sucn
direful calamity.
That was the time that you made up
the new bear game. at which delgns-
full pastime the object attempted was
20 amiably dine upon all the people that
couldn't get out of the door or under
the bed, and after awhile you finally
gave measles TO your grOwn-up cousin.
who should have had them years De-
fore. There weren't any lessons TO
learn, and almost anybody that came
in wOulu tell you ABOUT Joc0J w
shoes" or the Bad Little Children" in
the Bible, and somebody sent out of you
a rabbit that was alive and took such
neat little bites out of his lettice. L
reckon you named him "Never-Die7
and gave him so many things thar
weren't really good for rabbit that
if the cat hadn't gotten him he wouldns
have stood the test a week longer
Measles. it seems to me. are the most
interesting thing in the world that can
possibly happen to you before you
grow up. though the Board of Health de-
clares that it isn't so and that you must
run when you see them coming and not
visit any of your friends that have them
Well. every body must mind their
parents and their teachers fond and
dear so don't let them catch you II
YOU can help it. but IL is regular pic
mic if you get taken unawares and three
| little sisters have IL too
BRENT WITT.