And then, my joints--stiff! Yes, Dr. John,
stiff! How am I to do my work with stiff joints, I'd like to know?

I see, _says_ FATHER, _shaking his head._ This is a serious
matter. But cheer up, Nurse Mary; I believe I have the very thing that
will help you. _He opens his medicine case, which stands on the table,
and takes out a little bottle._ Here it is, _he says_, and let
me tell you how to take it; for with this medicine that is the most
important part. You must find some children to give it to you. If you
take it from grown-up people, it will do you no good at all, so you must
find a child somewhere, or two would be better, one to pour it out and
one to hold the spoon--

Oh, let me pour it out, _cries_ JACK.

And let me hold the spoon, _cries_ POLLY.

Why, that will do finely, _says_ FATHER, _and hands Jack the
bottle._ And now I must go out, _he continues_; for old Mrs.
Cavendish is sick and has sent for me. It may be quite late, when I come
home. _He begins to put on his overcoat._

And I, _says_ MOTHER, have some Christmas bundles to tie up. If
Nurse Mary goes before I come back, will you both go quietly to bed like
good children?

Yes, Mother, _cry_ POLLY _and_ JACK _together._

Well, good night, then, Mary dear, _says_ MOTHER.

Good night, Nurse Mary, _says_ FATHER. _Then Mother and Father
both go out, the one to her own room and the other to the street._

Come, Nurse Mary, _says_ JACK, you must take your medicine.

Do you suppose it is very bitter? _asks_ NURSE MARY.

I think it is, _says_ JACK, _looking into the bottle and smelling
it_. It looks bitter and it smells bitter.

But you mustn't mind that, Nurse Mary, _says_ POLLY; because it
will make you well.

All right, _says_ NURSE MARY. Pour it out.

_Then Polly holds the spoon, and Jack carefully pours the medicine
into it. Nurse Mary opens her mouth, swallows the dose, and makes a wry
face, shuddering._

Was it horrid? _asks_ JACK.

Horrid! _answers_ NURSE MARY.

Do you feel better? _asks_ POLLY.

I can't tell yet, _answers_ NURSE MARY. I suppose I must wait a
little for the medicine to work.

And while we are waiting, _says_ JACK, tell us about when Father
was a little boy.

_So Nurse Mary sits down, and takes Polly on her lap, while Jack sits
on a stool at her feet, and then_ NURSE MARY _begins_, When Dr.
John was a very little boy--

But, Nurse Mary, JACK _says, interrupting_, he wasn't named "Dr.
John" then, was he?

No,