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.