Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-09-22
Back to Boyhood
Days
BY MURIEL BLAIR

torpid" reported DIR. Phlletus Derrlh
ger. and he tapped his patient
Thomas Maltby, three times and made
mental note of $50 bill for his ad'
vice.
"Humph !" observed the wealthy old
bachelor lazy, ehT"
Worse than laziness, my friend,
responded the notable physician grave
ly. "Your late suppers, lack OF exer'
else and indolent ways generally have
stored your system with poisons.'
Then get rid of them," suggested
Thomas
Nothing but exercise will do that,
was the serious response.
"You speak of exercise, doctor" said
Thomas. what do you mean-golf,
walking, baths, dieting|
"They all help, but you need addi-
tionally a spur, changed conditions.
Get your mind clear as well as your
body. See here, did you ever hear Oh
Prof. Septimus Gregg and his great
youthful reorganization SYSTEM"
81 never did" confessed Thomas.
"You will come back with your
youth renewed. Then if you take my
advice, get married, and home life VIII
do the rest"
Thus it was that two mornings later
Thomas Maltby was introduced TO
Prof. Septimus Gregg at the doctors
office. He found the latter to be
great, fierce, bearish old fellow.
Tommy Maltby, ehF' he spoke.
swell, Tommy. if you're ready, toddle
along with me. I've few purchases
to make and you can carry the bun
dies"
Thomas stared as the professor en-
tered department store and pur-
chased: % half dozen shoofiy kites;
(2) us many humming tops; (3)
dozen bags of marbles; (4) a box of
bubble pipes.
'eYou must have a lot Of children to
provide for, professor?" ventured
Thomas.
HIN you'll soon find out" was the
gruff rejoinder.
When they reached walled-in coun-
try place at noon that day, Thomas
Maltby wondered if he had entered an
asylum. A dozen men as old or older
than himself greeted their arrival
boisterously. Some of them were bare
footed. All of them wore knicker-
bockers. They capered around ike
boys on a vacation. Eagerly they
scrambled for the Doctors purchases.
Then they booted and frisked about
like mere kids. They played marbles,
blew bubbles, spun tops, few kites.
"Now, then, make believe you're a
boy again. Forget everything for one
month but just that" said the profess
sor, and Thomas was escorted to a
room with trundle bed and emerged
from it wearing a juvenile costume
like the others.
Thomas grinned and then laughed
outright as he got onto the scheme.
He was to play boy for month. He
was hailed as "Tom" on the play
ground.
Inside of week Thomas Maltby had
forgotten the club, late dinners and
his automobile. The "boys" went fish
ing, swimming. They played one old
cat, mumbly-peg, hi-spy. They got
up big appetites.
On one side Of the resort was
high brick wall. Strolling near it one
day. Thomas caught a tennis ball that
came over its top. There were fem
mime cries of distress. Then a lad
der top appeared. Peering over it
was fair, mischieyous face, half hid
den in quaint childish sunbonnet.
"Do you see the ball, Matter" asked
a voice below.
"Here, you, boy" called out the
roguish Matte to the astonished
Tbomas-"toss that lost ball over
here, will your"
Then Thomas found out that the
brick wall inclosed the domain of Mrs.
Prof. Gregg, who superintendent the
girls department" of the juvenile re-
juyenating system. He got to think
ing constantly Of Matte.
"They have regular party here
once a month";" "boy" friend told
Thomas next day. There is music,
dancing, and supper
Ladies, tooT' inquired Thomas,
hopefully.
"Yes, Mrs. Prof. Gregg and her
flock. The old life toys for tonight,
you know. Very formal and digni-
fled"
Thomas never enjoyed himself as
he did at the function announced.
There were friendly introductions and
a pleasant time all around.
When Thomas returned to the city
he sought Matte out. He called on her
twice, but only had he to tell her his
love to win her complete acceptance
of his suit.
Returning from a years tour OF Eu-
rope one day DR.. Philetus Derringer
CHANGED TO meet Thomas. The latter,
smiling, brisk and happy, hailed him
with healthy handshake that made
the physician vince.
at is plain to see'that you took the
Juvenile cure" said the doctor.
"Yes, and won splendid wife and
a comfortable home through 1t all,
declared Thomas. "We live next door
to a glorious family with II children,
and we're all just like kids Going
home now to fly kites for them"