5 Measles, Measles Everywhere!

CHAPTER 5 Measles, Measles Everywhere! Mrs. Pepper stepped brightly into the Little Brown House, sure that her worries were soon to end. "Polly? Joel?" she called as she walked into the bedroom. She saw Polly holding her eyes as if they might fly out of her head, while Joel stood helplessly beside her.

"My goodness! What in the world happened here?" she asked. "That big, old, mean woman made our Polly cry her eyes out," Joel explained. "And now her eyes feel worse—" "Crying? Polly's been crying?" Mrs. Pepper repeated. "Oh, Mamsie. I couldn't help it. Miss Jerusha said—" Polly stopped. A rain of tears began again. "Hush now, my girl," Mrs. Pepper said. She gathered up Polly into her arms as though she were little Phronsie. "I know I shouldn't have minded what she said, but—" Polly started to say— "What did she say?" Mrs. Pepper asked. Between them, Polly and Joel explained the whole thing. Although she didn't say it aloud, Mrs. Pepper vowed to herself that Miss Jerusha Henderson would never visit the Little Brown House again.

"There, there, Polly dear. You are truly the best daughter a mother could have. Don't think about a word that Miss Henderson said," Mrs. Pepper said soothingly. "You must stop crying and save your eyes." But the damage was already done. Over the next few days, Polly's eyes hurt more than ever. There was nothing to be done to soothe them. When Doctor Fisher came to examine Polly and heard what had happened, his expression grew very serious. Polly had been almost well the last time he'd been to visit. But now— Just then, Phronsie ran in, crying "Polly! Mamsie says Joel's sick. Come quick!" Without a second thought, Polly jumped right up and tore off the eye bandages. "I will help Mother. I will!" Polly declared, heading for Joel's bedroom. Doctor Fisher gently and firmly sat Polly back in her chair. "Polly Pepper, you must not take off those

bandages again," Doctor Fisher explained. "If you do, you will surely go blind and your mother will have to care for you all her life! Now, I'll see to Joel, and you do your part by staying still." Joel was very sick. For days, his life was at risk. No one in the Little Brown House spoke above a whisper. No one ever said aloud how worried he or she was about him. Things were so bad at the Little Brown House that their neighbor Mrs. Beebe came to stay and help. One afternoon, when Polly couldn't stand it a minute longer, she flung herself down on the bed and buried her face in the bed cover. "Dear God. I'll give up my eyes. Make me blind if only you'll make Joel well," Polly whispered over and over. Polly fell asleep for the first time since Joel had become sick. Mrs. Beebe came in and found her. "Polly, dear," Mrs. Beebe said, gently shaking

Polly awake. "I've got something to tell you about Joel—" Polly sat up, fearing the worst. "He's going to get well. The danger is gone," Mrs. Beebe said. "Really?" Polly cried. She jumped up and hugged Mrs. Beebe with all her strength. "He'll be running and tumbling around in no time. Good as new," Mrs. Beebe said with a smile. Sure enough, in a very few days, Mrs. Beebe's words came true.