The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-04-19
HIS BEST
CF1JM
BY EUNIeE BLAKE

ache The next morning lie remained
in slumber, and no effort TO awaken
him availed. He did not seem to be
in pain. sleeping TRANQUILITY. He re.
mained 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 per-
son OF the opposite sex who was in Il
perpetual slumbcr.
One day Johnny showed signs of
waking. For 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 lie was
alone.
He lay for some time, after becoming
conscious. with closed eyes. thinking
OF his sufferings the night before, '
as he supposed 1t was, and feeling
much relieved to be out of pain. Then
he attempted TO turn on his other side
He was surprised 10 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 step in the room, lie turned
so that he could see young woman
sitting beside window reading. She
was unknown to him. When Johnny
as n boy had awakened in the morning
and did not have 10 go to school he
usually lay in bed reading.
rs this Saturday. he asked.
The girl started, and Johnny was as
tonished Mt the sound of his voice. The
girl rose excitedly, came to his bed
side. then ran Immediately out of the
room. johnny in his amazement
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 mir
ror the reflection of Il 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 Il 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
"Nhat is it. mother" cried the af-
frighted John. Something strange has
happened! How big | am! How rough
INV voice. | seem TO have grown TO he
n man overnight
you have grown to be n man, dear,
but not overnight You went to bed
one night when you were boy and
have sept continuously ever since"
There was silence for some time
while realization of this singular an
nouncement was working its way into
Johns brain. Then he asked a 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.
"SIIe is-was--your best chum, Lucy
Treadwell.
Good gracious exclaimed John
wonderingly, lis that Luv:"
Yes, 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 kere when |
woke" said John, and he put out both
hands to her. What Il woman you've
grown to he, How old are you'll
mean how old am y
you're twenty-one, and you know
that I'm a year younger than you.
That makes me twenty. Cab YOU see