"His birthday's the Fourth, and that's only a couple of days off." The proud parent grinned, then looked troubled.
"Why, he ain't real fust-rate," he said.

"Seems to be some under the weather.

Got a cold and kind of sore throat.

Dr.Parker says he cal'lates it's a touch of tonsilitis.

There's consider'ble fever, too.
I was hopin' the doctor'd come again to-day, but he's gone away on a fishin' cruise.