in his head and chest were more severe; his skin was
hot and dry; his cheeks were flushed with fever; he breathed with
difficulty, and his cough had become quite distressing. He felt cross
and fretful, too, and nothing that was done for him seemed to give him
satisfaction. He was unwilling that any one should attend upon him,
except his mother, and refused to receive his food or medicine from any
hand but hers. If she happened to be absent from his room more than a
few moments, when he was awake, he would insist upon her being called
back.

But though Oscar would not allow his mother to leave him, she did not
suit him much better than the other members of the family. It was with
considerable difficulty that she could coax him to take the medicines
the doctor had ordered. Then she was obliged to deny him all forms of
nourishment, except a little gum-arabic water,--an arrangement at which
he complained a good deal.

Oscar's fever continued to run for more than a week, the violence of
the disease increasing from day to day. Then a favorable change took
place, and the doctor told him the fever had turned, and he was getting
better. For a day or two before this, however, he was very ill; so
ill, indeed, that he submitted to whatever the doctor ordered, without
a word of complaint. He felt that there was danger, and he dare not
stand in the way of the means used for his recovery. To this, perhaps,
he owed the favorable turn the disease had taken; for had he refused to
take his medicines, as he did at the commencement of his sickness, or
even had he only engaged in a fruitless but exhausting contest with his
mother, the scale might have turned the other way, and the fever ended
in death.

Getting better! That was the best news Oscar had heard for many a day.
He almost wanted to kiss the lips that spoke those encouraging words.
He always liked Dr. Liscom, but never so well as at that moment. It
was good news to all the household, too, and flew quickly from one to
another. In fact, the children grew so jubilant over it, that their
mother had to remind them that Oscar was yet too sick to bear any noise
in the house.

"O dear," said George, "I 've got tired of keeping so still. How long
will it be before we can make a real good noise, mother?"

"And how long before I can sing, and practice my music-lessons,
mother?" inquired Ella.

"And how long before Oscar can go out and play?" inquired Ralph, more
thoughtfu