She divined that the manse children were pitying her for her many stripes and she did not want pity . She wanted to be envied . She looked gaily about her . Her strange eyes , now that the dullness of famine was removed from them , were brilliant . She would show these youngsters what a personage she was . `` I 've been sick an awful lot , '' she said proudly . `` There 's not many kids could have come through what I have . I 've had scarlet fever and measles and ersipelas and mumps and whooping cough and pewmonia . '' `` Were you ever fatally sick ? '' asked Una . `` I do n't know , '' said Mary doubtfully . `` Of course she was n't , '' scoffed Jerry . `` If you 're fatally sick you die . '' `` Oh , well , I never died exactly , '' said Mary , `` but I come blamed near it once . They thought I was dead and they were getting ready to lay me out when I up and come to . '' `` What is it like to be half dead ? '' asked Jerry curiously . `` Like nothing . I did n't know it for days afterwards . It was when I had the pewmonia .
Mrs. Wiley would n't have the doctor -- said she was n't going XXXXX no such expense for a home girl .
If Like about for from near of that through to