straw back again as if it was Sunday. He was very still, and neither whistled nor sang. At noon he came again and gave us our food and water; this time Dolly came with him; she was crying, and I could gather from what they said that Jerry was dangerously ill, and the doctor said it was a bad case. So two days passed, and there was great trouble indoors. We only saw Harry, and sometimes Dolly. I think she came for company, for Polly was always with Jerry, and he had to be kept very quiet.
On the third day, while Harry was in the stable, a tap came at the door, and Governor Grant came in.
“I wouldn’t go to the house, my boy,” he said, “but I want to know how your father is.”
“He is very bad,” said Harry, “he can’t be much worse; they call it ‘bronchitis’; the doctor thinks it will turn one way or another tonight.”
“That’s bad, very bad,” said Grant, shaking his head, “I know two men who died of that last week; it takes ’em off in no time; but while there’s life there’s hope, so you must keep up your spirits.”
“Yes,” said Harry quickly, “and the doctor said that father had a better chance than most men, because he didn’t drink. He said yesterday the fever was so high that if father had been a drinking man it would have burned him up like a piece of paper; but I believe he thinks he will get over it; don’t you think he will, Mr. Grant?”
The governor looked puzzled.
“If there’s any rule that good men should get over these things, I’m sure he will, my boy; he’s the best man I know. I’ll look in early tomorrow.”
Early next morning he was there.
“Well?” said he.