or would have been, only
unluckily little Stella took this opportunity to break out with measles.
Of course Lady Bird was much distressed. She put Stella to bed at once,
and sent the others to the farthest side of the room lest they should
catch the disease also, "though," as she told Pocahontas, "You'll be
sure to have it. It always runs straight through families; the doctor
said so when I had it; and whatever I shall do with all of you on my
hands at once, I can't imagine." There is always a great deal to do in
times of sickness, so this was a very busy day. Lota had to make broth
for Stella, to concoct medicine out of water and syringa-stems, to
prepare dinner for the other children, and hear all their lessons, for
of course education must not be neglected let who will have measles!
Pocahontas was unusually troublesome. Imogene cried over the spelling
lesson; and altogether Lady Bird had her hands full that morning.

"I shall certainly send you all away to boarding-school if you don't
learn to behave better," she cried in despair, at which awful threat the
children wept aloud and promised to be good. Then came dinner,--real
dinner, I mean,--which Lady Bird could scarcely eat, so anxious was she
about her sick child in the garden. The moment it was over back she
flew, oblivious of the charms of raisins and almonds. Stella was asleep,
but she evidently had fever, for her cheeks were bright pink, and her
lips as red as sealing-wax.

"I must have a doctor for her," cried poor Lady Bird.

She tried to think what article would be best to choose for the doctor,
and fixed on an old black muff of Nursey's which lived on the shelf of
the nursery closet. To get it, however, it was needful to leave the
children again.

"You must all be good," she said, fussing about and tidying the room,
"very good and very quiet, so as not to wake up Stella. Dear me, what a
queer smell there is here! Let me think. What did Nursey do when I had
measles? She burned some sort of paper and made it smell nice again. I
must burn some paper too, else Stella'll suffocate, won't you, dear?"

No sooner thought than done. Jacob had left his coat hanging near the
tool-house while he went to dinner, and he always carried matches in his
pipe-pocket. Lady Bird knew that. She put her hand in and drew one out,
feeling guilty, for one of Nursey's chief maxims was, "Never touch
matches, Lady Bird; remember what I say, never!"

"If Nursey knew about Stella'