in to his pillow. This little experiment satisfied him for the day.

It was a fine April morning when Oscar was first taken up from his sick
bed, and placed in an easy chair, well lined with blankets and
comforters. This was a memorable event in his life, the first time he
sat up after nearly three weeks' confinement to his bed. He was
dragged to the front window, from which he could see the people upon
the street below. How familiar, and yet how strange, everything and
everybody looked to his sick eyes! And then, to have his toast and
drink set before him upon a corner of the table, where he could help
himself, and eat and drink with some comfort,--was n't that "grand," to
use his own expressive term!

Oscar's recovery was now pretty rapid, but his mother had to watch him
very sharply, to prevent him from running into excesses, to which his
impatience continually prompted him. It was hard to make him realize
that there was yet some danger of a relapse, and that prudence would be
necessary for several weeks to come.

CHAPTER XIII.

GETTING WELL.

Oscar had reason to remember the first time he went down stairs, after
his fit of sickness. It was in the night-time. He awoke, feeling
quite hungry; for he was yet kept on a spare diet, which was far from
satisfying the cravings of his appetite. He was alone in his room, and
all the rest of the family were asleep. A lamp was burning dimly in
the fire-place of his chamber, and the door that led into his mother's
room was open, that she might be ready, at the least sound of alarm.
After thinking the matter over a few minutes, and satisfying himself
that no one in the house was awake, he determined to go down stairs in
quest of something to eat.

"What is the use of starving a fellow to death, because he has been
sick!" he said to himself. "I might as well die one way as another;
and if there 's anything to eat in the house, I'm bound to have it. I
've lived on slops and toasted bread three weeks, and I can't stand it
any longer."

He accordingly got up, and taking the lamp, stole very cautiously into
the entry, and down stairs, having nothing but his night-clothes upon
him. The snapping of the stairs, under his tread, was the only noise
that was heard, and this did not awake any of the household. He
proceeded at once to the kitchen closet, and commenced helping himself
with a free hand to its contents. He began upon a dish of corned beef
and vegetab