River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-06-03
HIS BEST
CF1UM
By EUNICE BLAKE

to bed one night with splitting head
ache. The next morning he remained
in slumber, and no effort to awaken
him availed. He did not seem to be
in pain. sleeping TRANQUILITY. He re-
NAMED asleep week after week, month
after month and year after year. He
needed very little food. and that was
given him by various methods devised
by the doctors. He slept seven years
in the same room, in which no change
was made during that time.
When Johnny went to sleep a little
girl thirteen years old was his best
chum," as he called her. They were
in the same class in the same school
and used to study their lessons togeth-
er, for Lucy TreadWell lived directly
across the street from Johnny, and
they had not far to go to reach each
other. Lucy grew from childhood to
womanhood, seeing almost daily a per-
son of the opposite sex who was in
perpetual Slumber.
One day Johnny showed signs of
waking. For d week there was hope
that he would do so, but those about
him had been so often disappointed
that they had lost confidence in his
recovery. But he did awaken, and
when he came to himself he was
alone.
He lay for some time, after becoming
conscious, with closed eyes, thinking
of his sufferings the night before"
as he supposed it was, and feeling
much relieved to be out of pain. Then
he attempted to turn on his other side.
He was surprised to find himself very
weak. Lying in bed without using
his muscles had taken his strength.
While on his back he opened his eyes,
still seeing nothing but the ceiling.
Hearing d step in the room. he turned
so that he could see a young woman
sitting beside window reading. She
was unknown to him. When johnny
as boy had awakened in the morning
and did not have to go to school he
usually lay in bed reading.
is this Saturday," he asked.
The girl started, and Johnny was as
tonished at the sound of his voice. The
girl rose eXcitedly, came to his bed
side, then ran Immediately out OF the
room. Johnny in his amaZemenr
thrashed about and While doing so put
his hand to his face. 1t was covered
with hair.
"What in the world he began.
And, sitting up in bed, he saw in a mir
ror the reflection Of a man. He was
dumfounded. He moved, and the re-
Election moved. After it had followed
several Of his movements he covered
his face with the bedclothes and gave
way to a nervous chill.
Hearing persons hurrying into the
room, he threw off the clothes. His
mother, looking much older than "the
night before" ran into the room, fol-
lowed by the young woman, who had
gone out of it, and. taking him in her
arms, Sobbed:
My dear boy! Heaven be thanked!
what is it, mother?" cried the af-
frighted John. Something strange has
happened! How big am! How rough
my vOice | seem to have grown to be
a man overnight"
You have grown to be a man, dear,
but not overnight. You went to bed
one night when you were a boy and
have slept continuously ever since"
There was silence for some time
while a realization Of this singular an
nouncement was working its way into
Johns brain. Then he asked dozen
questions so rapidly that his mother
found difficulty in answering one be
fore another came forth Finally he
pointed to the girl, who seemed as
much affected by his recovery as his
mother, and asked who she was.
"She is-was-your best chum, Lucy
Treadwell.
Good gracious" exclaimed John
wonderingly, lis that Lucy?'
Eyes, I'm Lucy. I've prayed for your
waking ever since your long sleep be-
gan"
"She has been here nearly every day
since your slumber began" said Johns
mother.
"And happened to be here when l
woke" said John, and be put out both
hands to her. What woman you've
grown to be! How old are you-l
mean how old am ~
You're twenty-one, and you know
that I'm a year younger than you.
That makes me twenty. Can you see
any trace of your best chum' in me?'
"a trace only" replied John. You
were a pretty little girl then; you are
q heautifuI woman now"
Mrs. Hoxey said she must go and
call the doctor at once. John must not
get excited and take no action what
ever till the doctor had seen him and
given directions concerning him.
John obeyed the first injunction, but
soon forgot all about the last His
mother had no sooner left the room
than he reached for Lucy's hand and
drew her to seat beside him.
$50 you have been here constantly
since / have been In Sunderland.
Why did you come so regularity"