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MONG Toots' friends was a little girl whose name was Elfie. She lived just across the way, and her papa's garden joined that of Toots' mamma. There was a large gate, between the gardens, and the children went back and forth in the summer. They seldom quarrelled, and both children were glad to share their playthings. When Toots had the scarlet fever and was shut up in a room with his mamma and nurse, Elfie cried to have the fever too, so she could see him. It was summer time when Toots was sick, and sometimes when he was tired and restless he would moan so Elfie could hear him in the garden. One day when it was very warm and every one was tired and cross, Auntie bathed Elfie and put her on the bed, but she did not stay there long; she began to think of Toots—how warm he must be, how tired of the bed and that ugly dark room. Suddenly Elfie remembered that people used to bring her mamma pretty flowers when she was ill.
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Perhaps she might carry Toots some flowers; her auntie was fast asleep and the nurse was out. Yes, she would go into the garden and get the prettiest flowers there for poor Toots. She had no shoes—auntie had put them away—and no stockings; but it would not matter; plenty of children never had shoes or stockings, and it could not hurt very much, for they could run.
Just then a low moan was heard and that decided Elfie; she sprang up and ran down stairs; no one was in sight but Touser, and he was such a good dog, he only lapped her bare feet with his tongue, so little Elfie went into the garden and began to gather flowers.
Presently she heard another moan from the sick-room, and she ran as fast as she could through the gate and up to the door. One of the servants was just coming out. "Why, little Elfie!" said she, "you will hurt those poor bare feet and you must not come here now, did any one send you?"
"No, I runned away,'coz I wanted Toots to have some flowers, and I wish I could have the fever too, and be sick with him."
"Poor child!" said the maid, "Master Toots shall have your flowers and he is better to-day, only the great heat makes him moan; wait here a bit until I send them up to his room and then I will take you home."
The flowers were carried to the sick-room and Toots smiled when they told him what his little friend said. "Tell her not to wish for the fever," he said, "for I feel as if I were on fire, and there is no cool place in the bed; but when I am well again we will play together at the fountain and keep our store as we used to." Elfie was very happy when she heard this message, and after that she sent flowers to the sick boy every day.
