Now what do you suppose that boy did?
Why, he went back to his room, and with his sister's brush and color box he painted red spots on his face, just as he had seen them on the face of the real Measles Boy across the street. Then this boy put the paints away and waited.
After a while Mother called:
"Come, Boysie! Time to get up and go to school!"
"I—I don't guess I'd better go to school this morning," said the boy, trying to make his voice sound weak and ill and faint-like.
"Not go to school! Why not?" cried Mother in surprise.
"I—I'm all red spots," the boy answered. And when his mother went in his room, and saw that he really was spotted, she exclaimed:
"Why, you have the measles! I didn't think they'd break out so soon! Well, you must stay in the dark on account of your eyes. I'll bring you in some breakfast, and of course you can't go to school!"
Then that boy had to put the bedquilt over his mouth so he wouldn't laugh. If his room had been light his mother, of course, would have seen that the spots were only red paint. But in the dimness of early morning she didn't see.
"Isn't Brother going to school?" asked Sister as she ate her breakfast.