118 History of Gutta-Percha Willie.

 

rush into them. “What skaliI do? Wheelie will
be useless !—Well, I can’t help it; and if I can’t
help it, Ican bear it. To have grannie comfortable
will be better than to look out of the window ever
so much,”

He drew in his head, came down the ladder
with a rush, and hurried off to school.

At supper he laid his scheme before his father
and mother. .

They looked very much pleased with their boy.
But his father’ said at once—

“No, no, Willie. It won’t do. I’m glad you ’ve
been the first to think of something—only, unfor-
tunately, your plan won’t work. You can’t sleep
there.”

“T’ll engage to sleep wherever there’s room to
lie down ; and if there isn’t I’ll engage to sleep
sitting or standing,” said Willie, whose mother had
often said she wished she could sleep like Willie.
« And as I don’t walk in my sleep,” he added, “the
trap-door needn’t be shut.”

“Mice, Willie!” said his mother, in a tone of
much significance,

“The cat and I are good | . friends,” returned
Willie. “She’ll be pleased enough:to sleep with me.”

“You don’t hit the thing at all,” said his father.
“TI wonder a practical man. like you, Willie,
doesn’t see it at once. Even if I were at the ex--

pense of ceiling the whole roof with lath and plaster,