"almost worn to a thread."

"Twasn't anything to take care of you, Joe," she added, "when you were
real sick, because then I knew where you were; but--well, you won't ever
have the measles again, I s'pose, and that's some comfort!"

Little David, who had been nearly stunned by the sickness that had laid
aside his almost constant companion, could express his satisfaction and
joy in no other way than by running every third minute and begging to do
something for him. And Joel, who loved dearly to be waited on, improved
every opportunity that offered; which Mrs. Pepper observing, soon put a
stop to.

"You'll run his legs off, Joel," at last she said, when he sent David
the third time down to the wood-pile for a stick of just the exact
thickness, and which the little messenger declared wasn't to be found.
"Haven't you any mercy? You've kept him going all day, too," she added,
glancing at David's pale face.

"Oh, mammy," panted David, "don't; I love to go. Here Joe, is the best I
could find," handing him a nice smooth stick.

"I know you do," said his mother; "but Joe's getting better now, and he
must learn to spare you."

"I don't want to spare folks," grumbled Joel, whittling away with
energy; "I've been sick--real sick," he added, lifting his chubby face
to his mother to impress the fact.

"I know you have," she cried, running to kiss her boy; "but now, Joe,
you're most well. To-morrow I'm going to let you go down-stairs; what do
you think of that!"

"Hooray!" screamed Joel, throwing away the stick and clapping his hands,
forgetting all about his serious illness, "that'll be prime!"

"Aren't you too sick to go, Joey?" asked Mrs. Pepper, mischievously.

"No, I'm not sick," cried Joel, in the greatest alarm, fearful his
mother meant to take back the promise; "I've never been sick. Oh, mammy!
you know you'll let me go, won't your?"

"I guess so," laughed his mother.

"Come on, Phron," cried Joel, giving her a whirl.

David, who was too tired for active sport, sat on the floor and watched
them frolic in great delight.

"Mammy," said he, edging up to her side as the sport went on, "do you
know, I think it's just good--it's--oh, it's so frisky since Joe got
well, isn't it, mammy?"

"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Pepper, giving him a radiant look in return for
his; "and when Polly's around again with her two eyes all right--well, I
don't know what we shall do, I declare!"

"Boo!" cried a voice, next morning, close