Much sobered by the importance of the news he had to communicate, youthful Thomas strode into the house and said breathlessly:
Mother, they have a new baby next door, and the lady over there is awful sick. Mother, you ought to go right in and see her.
Yes, dear, said his mother. "I will go over in a day or two just as soon as she gets better."
But, mother, persisted Thomas. "I think you ought to go in right away; she is real sick, and maybe you can do something to help."
Yes, dear, said the mother patiently, "but wait a day or so until she is just a little better."
Thomas seemed much dissatisfied at his mother's apparent lack of neighborly interest, and then something seemed to dawn upon him, for he blurted out:
Mother, you needn't be afraid�it ain't catching.