New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1921-04-27
Back to Boyhood
Days
BY MURIEL BLAIR
d. 1921. western Newspaper uaon.)

torpid" reported DR.. Philetus Derrin-
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" generally lazy, eh?"
Worse than laziness, my friend,
responded the notable physician grave
~. "Your late suppers, lack OF exer-
else and INDECENT ways generally have
stored your system with poisons."
Then get rid of them," suggested
Thomas.
Nothing but exercise will 90 that
was the serious response.
"You speak of exercise, doctor" SAID
Thomas. What do you meap-gol1
walking, baths, dieting!"
"They all help, but you need addl-,
tionally spur, changed conditions.
Get your mind clear as we'll as your
body. See here, did you ever hear OF
Prof. Septimus Gregg and MS 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 a
great, fierce, bearish old fellow.
Tommy Maltby, eh?" he spoke.
"Well, Tommy, if you're ready, toddle
along with me. I've few purchases
to make and you can carry the pun
dies"
Thomas stared as the professor en-
tered department store and puf-
chased: "a half a dozen shootiy kites !;
(2) as many humming tops; 90 q
dozen bags of marbles; a. box OF
bubble pipes.
'sYou must have a lot Of children to
provide for, professors" yentured
Thomas.
.H'm! 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 like
boys on vacation. Eagerly they
scrambled for the doctors purchases.
Then they booted and frisked about
like mere kids. They played marbles,
blew bubbles, spun tops, flew kites.
Nov, 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 tiunsale bed and emerged
from it wearing 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 a 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 a
high brick wall. Strolling near it one
day. Thomas caught tennis ball that
came over it's top. There were fem
mime cries Of distress. Then lad
der top appeared. Peering over it
was a fair, mischieyous face, half hid
den in a quaint childish sunbonnet.
"Do you see the ball, Mattie?" asked
a voice below.
"Here, you, boy" called out the
roguish Matte to the astonished
Tbomas-"tos that lost ball over
here, will you?"
Then Thomas found out that the
brick wall inclosed the domain Of Mrs.
Prof Gregg, who superintendent the
girls department" Of the juvenile re-
| juvenating system. He got to think
+ ing constantly Of Matte.
"They have a regular party here
once month";" "boy'' friend told
Thomas next day. There is music,
dancing, and supper"
Ladies', too?" inquired Thomas,
hopefully.
Eyes, Mrs. Prof Gregg and her
flock. The old life togs for tonight,
you know. Very formal and digni-
fied.'
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.
1T is plain to see that you took the
Juvenile cure said the doctor.
Yes, and won a splendid wife and
a comfortable home through it all"
declared Thomas. 1--WE live next door
IN q, olo 20 nh;