Say, Tom!" [No response.] "Here, Tom! Tom! What is the matter, Tom?" And he shook him and looked in his face anxiously.Tom moaned out:"Oh, don't, Sid. Don't joggle me.""Why, what's the matter, Tom? I must call auntie.""No -- never mind. It'll be over by and by, maybe. Don't call anybody.""But I must! don't groan so, Tom, it's awful. How long you been this way?""Hours. Ouch! Oh, don't stir so, Sid, you'll kill me.""Tom, why didn't you wake me sooner ? Oh, Tom, don't! It makes my flesh crawl to hear you. Tom, what is the matter?""I forgive you everything, Sid. [Groan.] Everything you've ever done to me. When I'm gone --""Oh, Tom, you ain't dying, are you? Don't, Tom -- oh, don't. Maybe --""I forgive everybody, Sid. [Groan.] Tell 'em so, Sid. And Sid, you give my window-sash and my cat with one eye to that new girl that's come to town, and tell her --"But Sid had snatched his clothes and gone. Tom was suffering in reality, now, so handsomely was his imagination working, and so his groans had gathered quite a genuine tone.Sid flew down-stairs and said:"Oh, Aunt polly, come! Tom's dying!""Dying!""Yes'm. Don't wait -- come quick!""Rubbage! I don't believe it!"But she fled up-stairs, nevertheless, with Sid and Mary at her heels. And her face grew white, too, and her lip trembled. When she reached the bedside she gasped out:"You, Tom! Tom, what's the matter with you?""Oh, auntie, I'm --""What's the matter with you -- what is the matter with you, child?""Oh, auntie, my sore toe's mortified!"The old lady sank down into a chair and laughed a little, then cried a little, then did both together. This restored her and she said:"Tom, what a turn you did give me. Now you shut up that nonsense and climb out of this."The groans ceased and the pain vanished from the toe. The boy felt a little foolish, and he said:"Aunt polly, it seemed mortified, and it hurt so I never minded my tooth at all.""Your tooth, indeed! What's the matter with your tooth?""One of them's loose, and it aches pe
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