A HARD WORKING BOY

By: Lynne G.

Little Joe Cartwright was so tired that he was having trouble keeping his eyes open and he was having a hard time thinking straight.  The ten year old boy hadn't had a good nights sleep for weeks, and he also hadn't been eating well either.  There just didn't seem to be enough hours in the day for the boy to do everything that needed to be done.

There had been a flu epidemic going around the Nevada Territory with two strains of flu.  One was a very mild form and the other one was a deadly form.  Luckily most everyone had come down with the mild form of flu. 

Finally the flu epidemic was just about over and the last place it hit was the Ponderosa. 

The Cartwright family had so much extra work to do since all of their hands had come down with the mild form of flu.  Finally after two weeks the hands had all recovered and were back at work

Three weeks later, Ben, his sons, Adam and Hoss came down with the mild form of flu, and were in bed.  The next day Hop Sing was also ill with the same flu.  That left only the youngest member of the family, Little Joe the only healthy one.  So the boy decided that he could take care of his family, Hop Sing and the ranch chores.  Charlie and Hank two of the long time ranch hands could help run the rest of the ranch.  This young boy was always so full of energy, that he could hardly keep still for long, so he thought he could handle everything.

Hop Sing had told Little Joe how to make chicken and beef broth, so he had made lots of it for his family that would last for days, and if he needed to make more, he could.  

Little Joe would go to each of his family's rooms to feed them and make sure they had everything they needed.  Hop Sing kept wanting to get up and help the boy, but Little Joe made him stay in bed too.

Charlie and Hank had offered to help Little Joe take care of the his family, but the boy  told them thank you, but that he could take care of everybody.

Little Joe did all of his chores plus those of his two older brothers, and he kept the house cleaned up also.  He even did the laundry.  The boy also kept track of all the food supplies and when they began to run low, he went into Virginia City to get more supplies.

About the only things his family would eat was broth, tea and toast.  Little Joe learned how to make bread, but he did make a big mess when he was in the kitchen, and he always cleaned up after fixing the meals for his family.  He also made sure that there was enough wood chopped for the fireplace and the cook stove.

His family had no idea that the youngest member of their family was working so hard by himself.  They just figured that the boy had help.

Finally after almost two weeks, his family which included Hop Sing were feeling much better.  Dr. Paul Martin told Little Joe that his family could now have eggs to eat along with broth, tea and toast.  In a couple of more days they could have what ever they wanted to eat.

For some reason, Adam was giving Little Joe a hard time about staying in bed and about the food the boy made for him.   " I mean it Little Joe, let me up NOW !" shouted Adam.  " NO WAY !  Ya gotta stay in bed for one more day.  Now be quiet and rest," the boy told him.  Adam was mad at his little brother for no reason really, so he continued to give the boy a very hard time.  As Little Joe left Adam's bedside, Adam decided to get up.  At hearing this, Little Joe ran over to him and pushed him back into his bed.  " STAY PUT NOW !" shouted the boy..  " I'm going to get you for this you little brat !" yelled Adam as he started to get up again.  Little Joe had had enough of this foolishness, so he got up on Adam's bed and he sat down on Adam's chest so he couldn't get up.

Adam kept yelling at Little Joe, but the boy just sat on him.  Finally Ben came into the room, and he shouted, " WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE ?"  "  Pa, Adam keeps trying to get out of bed, and he won't listen to me. He can get up tomorrow and he keeps on complaining about the food too.  HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT OF BED PA !  GET BACK TO YOUR ROOM AND INTO BED NOW ! DO YOU HEAR ME ?" yelled the boy.

Little Joe was so tired that he didn't realize what he had just yelled at his father.  Adam just laid there not believing what his little brother had just said either. 

Ben stood there with his mouth open at what he had just heard also.  " Yes sir," Ben said as he left Adam's room.  " Boy, little brother, do you realize what you just said to Pa?" Adam asked him.  Little Joe just nodded as tears filled up his eyes.  Adam was still upset at the boy.  " I'm hungry.  Do you plan to give me something to eat today?" asked Adam angrily.  Little Joe just glared at him and left the room in tears.

About 30 minutes later, Little Joe brought breakfast to Ben, Hoss, and Adam.  When he got to Ben's room, he looked at Ben and said, " I'm sorry for yellin' at ya Pa, but ya have ta stay in bed til tomorrow.  Here, now eat yer breakfast,"  " Thank you son, and I'm sorry too,"  said Ben with a big smile on his face. 

Next he gave Hoss his breakfast.  " Hey Short Shanks, where's the potatoes, bacon, coffee and hot cakes?"  asked Hoss, as he looked at the scrambled eggs, toast and tea.  " Sorry.  Tomorrow ya can have anything you want, but this is it for today," said Little Joe.  Hoss just made a face at him as he started to eat. 

Little Joe walked into Adam's room to give him his breakfast last.  " Here Adam, hope ya like it," said the boy as he handed Adam his tray of food.  Adam looked at the eggs, toast and tea, and he looked at the boy and said," What is this ?"  " It's yer breakfast.  Now eat," said Little Joe as he headed for the door.  Adam picked up his plate of eggs and threw them at Little Joe.  The plate hit the boy on his back.  He turned around and glared at Adam.  " WHAT DID YA DO THAT FOR?" yelled the boy. 

" Because I felt like it.  I'm damn sick and tired of this so called food you are making me eat.  That's why!" shouted Adam.  Little Joe gathered up pieces of plate and eggs and put them on the tray.  He took the toast and tea and sat em on the night stand next to Adam's bed.  " Look Adam, I'm sorry, but tomorrow you can all have  what ever ya wanna eat.  OK ?" said the boy as he picked up the tray and left the room in tears.

" Joseph," Ben called as he heard his young son walking in the hall.  " Yes pa?" asked the boy.  " Little Joe, what was the noise from Adam;s room?" asked Ben as he saw tears running down his tired boy's face.  " Adam didn't want his breakfast, so he threw his plate at me and it broke.  I cleaned up the mess Pa.  I'm sorry I can't cook like Hop Sing, but I'm doin' the best I can," cried Little Joe. 

" Sweetheart, come here and sit down please,"  said Ben.  Little Joe walked over to the bed and sat down with tears running down his face.  " Baby, you have been doing a wonderful job of taking care of us, and your cooking isn't that bad either.  Breakfast tasted very good.  Listen sweetheart, I want you to take a nap, you're exhausted," Ben told his son as he gave him a hug, and wiped his tears from his face.  " Thanks Pa, but I got too much to do yet.  When you guys can get up tomorrow, then I will have a nap.  Really I will," said the boy.  Ben gave him another hug.  Ben couldn't help it, but he was worried about his exhausted little boy. 

The rest of the day, Little Joe worked hard to make sure everyone was well taken care of.  As he was finishing cleaning the kitchen, he felt a hand on his shoulder.  When he turned around, there was Hop Sing looking down at him and smiling.  " Hop Sing, what are you doing out of bed?" asked the surprised boy.  " Hop Sing feel much better now.  Dr. Martin say Hop Sing can be up now.  Number three son take good care of Hop Sing.  Now Hop Sing take over kitchen again," said Hop Sing.  " Are you sure Dr. Martin said you could be up Hop Sing?  I can handle everything here,"  said Little Joe. " You sure Little Joe?  I take over cooking tomorrow," Hop Sing said.  " Good, now you just rest today.   I can still help ya tomorrow too.  Would you like some more tea Hop Sing?" asked the boy.  " You good boy Little Joe.  You make good tea," Hop Sing told the boy.  " Thanks Hop Sing.  You taught me well," said LittleJoe as he handed Hop Sing some more tea.  Hop Sing could see how exhausted the boy was which made him feel bad, but also very proud to the youngster.

By the next week, all the Cartwrights and Hop Sing were feeling like normal again.  Little Joe still didn't get any rest though.  He still did most of the chores, since his young mind told him not to let hs family over do it yet.

Adam was still upset with his little brother.  He didn't want to think that the boy should have been left in charge of everything while they were all ill.  He didn't want to believe that this young boy-as he put it, could have been responsible for doing everything he had done over the past three weeks

On Monday morning Ben left for San Francisco on business and he would be gone for a week while Adam would be left in charge of the ranch.  Since it was spring break for Little Joe, Adam had come up with a lot of hard work for the boy that would keep him very busy.  Ben had wanted his young son just to rest and enjoy his two weeks off school.  He knew the boy needed a good rest after he had taken over when they were all ill.

Adam kept the boy working from sunup to late in the evening.  " Please Adam, can't I have a day off?  I'm really tired," Little Joe told him.  " No you can't little brother.  Look when you live on a working ranch, you work-not play.  NOW get back to work," Adam ordered.

" Adam, give the boy a break.  What are ya tryin' ta do, kill him?  Can't ya tell he's totally exhausted," Hoss angrily told Adam.  " Hoss, he wants to work on the ranch, so that's what he's doing, and NO, I'm not trying to kill him," Adam loudly told Hoss.  " Look Adam, Short Shanks hasn't had anytime off since before that flu hit.  That boy took good care of all of us, plus he kept the house clean and he did all our chores too, AND he went to town for the mail ,and supplies.  For God's sakes Adam, he jest a little boy-not a man," Hoss said. 

Little Joe was feeling awful.  His whole body ached, including his head.  His stomach was upset and he had thrown up several times.  He didn't say anything to Adam or Hoss.  He didn't think he had the flu, since his family or Hop Sing didn't throw when they were ill.  he thought he was just over tired.

The next day Hoss and Little Joe headed into Virginia City for supplies and the mail.  While they were in town Hoss took his little brother to lunch.  Hoss noticed that the boy hardly ate anything, as he just pushed his food his plate with a fork.  " What's wrong little brother ?" asked Hoss.  " Nothin' Hoss.  Just ain't hungry.  I'm just tired is all, I guess," Little Joe said softly.  Hoss noticed the boy looked a little pale.  That day he felt worse than he had been the day before and he didn't want to worry Hoss, so he didn't tell him that he really wasn't feeling very well.  He also felt weak and dizzy too.

On the way home, he asked Hoss if he could stop the wagon, which Hoss did.  Little Joe jumped off the wagon,went behind a large rock and he threw up.  Hoss could hear the boy, so he got down from the wagon and walked over towards the rock.  " Liitle Joe, ya OK boy?" he asked.  " In a minute Hoss," the boy weakly answered.  Finally Little Joe came out from behind the rock.  Hoss got a good look at him and he was shocked.  The boy was so pale, and he was sweating badly. 

" Little brother-yer sick" he said as he put his arms around the boy.  Little Joe was glad for that, since he felt like he was going to pass out.  " Hoss, I don't feel so good," he told Hoss.  Hoss felt his little brother's forehead for fever.  " Yer burnin' up Short Shanks.  Let's get you home baby," said Hoss as he picked up the boy and carried him to the wagon. 

When they got home, Hoss took his brother off the wagon seat and carried him into the house.  As he opened the front door, Adam was walking down the stairs and he saw Hoss carrying their little brother, and he then ran the rest of the way down the stairs and over to Hoss and Little Joe.  " What's wrong with him Hoss?' asked Adam.  " He's sick and he's burnin' up with fever too," said Hoss.  " Get him to bed and I'll get Charlie to go and get Paul," Adam said.

Hoss got Little Joe into bed.  Hop Sing had brought in some cool water so they could try to get the boy's fever down.  " Hoss, how long as he been like this?" asked Adam.  " He wasn't feelin' so good when we were town, and on the way home he had to throw up," said Hoss.  Adam felt the boy's forehead.  " His fever is high," said a worried Adam.

After Dr. Paul Martin had given Little Joe a thorough exam, he headed back down the stairs to where Adam and Hoss were waiting.  " Paul, how is he?" asked Adam.  " Adam, Hoss, Little Joe is a very sick boy.  He does have the flu, and not the mild version you all had.  I wish that were the type he had.  I'm very worried about him.  He is so run down, and exhausted, and I don't know if he has the strength to fight this.  His fever is very high. We need to bring it down now.  He can't keep anything in his stomach and he has thrown up several times since I've been here. I think you need to send a telegram to Ben and get him here as fast as possible.  I need to head back to town to get some things.I'll come straight back here.  I will send Ben a telegram,and get back as fast as I can," Paul told them.

Adam, Hoss and Hop Sing kept bathing Little Joe in cool water to hopefully get his fever to come down.  They also gave him water to drink, but he couldn't keep that down.

Paul was back at the Ponderosa within four hours.  For the next several days they had all tried to get Little Joe's fever down and fluids into the boy, but he just kept throwing up everything he drank or ate.  The medicine thatPaul had tried for upset stomachs had no affect on Little Joe.  The boy just kept getting weaker and weaker

Ben finally returned home and he headed straight for Little Joe's room.  " Pa, we're so glad your home.  Little Joe is so sick Pa.  Nothing is helping him. He is so weak Pa," said Adam with tears in his eyes.  Ben gave both Adam and Hoss a hug, then he sat down on the boy's bed.  " Liitle Joe, sweetheart. Papa's home now son.  Everything will be alright now baby.  You will be just fine," Ben told his son.  Ben was so worried about his youngest boy, as he looked awful and so little.

Hop Sing had mixed some Chinese herbs together for a special tea for Little Joe that would help settle his stomach so he could keep broth and water down.  This seemed to help.  At least now, the boy could get some nurishment and fluids in him that he so desperately needed.

After one  week, Little Joe's fever finally broke, and he started to feel a liitle better. He was so weak that he couldn't even lift his head up or turn over in bed.  All he did was sleep.

He slowly started to get his strength back thanks to Hop Sing's wonderful broth.  He didn't complain about having to stay in bed either.  He just wanted to sleep.

After three more weeks he was able to stand up on wobbly knees just long enough to walk over to the window and sit down.  He was still running a low fever.  Some days his fever was a little higher, which would last two or three days and then it would come down again. He was still not totally over this flu yet. 

One day right after lunch, Adam and Hoss were relaxing in the livingroom.  Hop Sing was in the kitchen cleaning up from lunch, and Ben was upstairs in his youngest son's room where he had fed the boy his lunch.  Little Joe's fever was higher again that day.  Ben was now putting cool clothes on the boy's forehead, while his son was dozing. 

Suddenly there was a knock at the front door, so Adam went to open the door, and to his surprise four gunmen burst into the room with their guns drawn.  " Who are you and what do you want?" asked a shocked Adam.  " Just shut up, and put your hands up-you too big guy-hands," ordered Luke Hudson.  George Hopper went out to the kitchen and pushed Hop Sing into the livingroom and told him to sit down and be quiet.  Hop Sing, Adam and Hoss, were all tied up and gagged.  Then Luke took Adam's gag back out and asked him if there was anyone else in the house ?  "Our Pa is upstairs with our little brother who is very sick," Adam said.  He was then regagged.

"Lan go up and check that out and bring them down here," ordered Luke. 

Ben was so busy trying to bring down Little Joe's fever that he didn't hear the voices downstairs.  Suddenly he saw Lan Hanson come into the room with his gunpointing at he and Little Joe.  " What the ......," Ben started to say.  " Don't try anything Cartwright," Lan angrily told Ben.  " What do you want?" asked a very nervous Ben.  " Money and some food to eat.  What's wrong with the boy?" asked Lan as he walked over to Little Joe.  " He's been sick with the flu for several weeks.  Please don't hurt him.  He can't do anything.  He just too sick," Ben softly said.  Lan laid his hand on Little Joe's forehead and said, " he's gotta a fever that's for sure.  Hey, kid get up and get down stairs," said Lan.  " He can't get out of bed.  He's too weak.  Please just leave him alone," Ben begged.  " Ya sure the boy can't get up?" asked Lan.  " I'm sure.  All he does is sleep," said Ben as he put another cool cloth on the boy's forehead.  " Cartwright, get down stairs now and don't try anything.  Ya hear me?" Lan said.  Before Ben got up, he said to Little Joe," you just sleep sweetheart.  Then he got up, but before he left the room, he looked back one more time at his sleeping son.

Once downstairs, Ben was tied up and gagged too.  " Luke, that boy upstairs really is sick, so he won't be botherin'' us at all.  All he does is sleep, and Cartwright here says the boy is too weak to even get up out of bed." said Lan.  " Well, that's good.  First thing we're gonna do is rest for a while.  Stan, untie the Chinaman, and get him out to the kitchen to make us somethin' to eat.  Stay with with him and don't let him try anything.  Cartwright, ya gotta nice place here," said Luke.

Little Joe wasn't really sleeping, but just dozing.  He had heard the voices from his father and Lan. He wanted to do something to help his family, but he wasn't sure what to do.  He laid back for a few more minutes.

Back down stairs, Hop Sing  had made something for the gunmen to eat, and then he was retied and gagged.

Little Joe pulled his covers off and slowly sat up and put his feet on the floor.  He was dizzy and weak.  He found his clothes, and he put them on, not bothering to tuck his shirt into his jeans or put his boots on.  He just didn't have the strength too, so he was barefooted.  He walked over to his window to climb out, but he had to sit down and rest for a couple of minutes, hoping his dizziness would go away. 

He got back up and climed out the window and over to where he could climb down.  He was dizzy again and he felt even weaker, so he closed his eyes for a second or so.  He finally made down to the ground.  He laid there to rest again. When he finally stood up, he slowly walked over to where the gunmen had their horses tied.  He took the reins of one of the horses, and walked the horse over past the barn and he got up in the saddle and rode off to Virginia City. 

The gunmen were enjoying their food, and while they ate they discussed where they were going to go after they left the Ponderosa.  They decided on Mexico. 

Little Joe was having a really hard time staying on the horse, but he finally made it into Virginia City and over to the sheriff's office.  Sheriff Roy Coffee and his deputy Clem Foster were sitting in chairs outside the office talking as Little Joe pulled up.  They looked up and were shocked to see Little Joe who had just fallen off the horse.  " Little Joe !" shouted Roy as he and Clem ran over to the fallen boy. Roy picked up the boy and carried him into the office.  " Clem get some water quick.  Little Joe, boy- what are you doing here?" asked a very worried Roy.  Clem put a glass of water up to the boy's lips, so he could get a drink.  " Just small sips now Little Joe," said Clem.  The boy did take some small sips, which tasted good to him.  " Thank you," he said softly.

" Please Sheriff Coffee ya gotta help, please we need help," the boy begged weakly.  " Son, what kind of help?" asked Roy.  " Gunmen at house.  Don't let them hurt Pa, Adam, Hoss and Hop Sing.  Please don't let em hurt my family. Help please," the boy slowly and quietly told Roy and Clem.

" Clem get a posse together fast.  Little Joe, we'll help em boy.  How many men, do you know son?" asked Roy as he gave the boy another drink of water.  " I think there's four of em.  Don't let em hurt my family," begged the boy again.

" Shhhh... you just rest now Little Joe," said Roy as he put a cool wet cloth on the boy's fevered forehead.  Roy was worried about the Cartwrights especially for this very sick boy who was so weak. 

Clem returned with a  dozen men, who Roy swore in as deputies.  Roy walked over to Little Joe and told the boy to stay there and rest, but in his fevered mind, he said " NO " and he started to get up.  " I have ta go home Roy," the boy mumbled.  Roy pushed him back down and told him again to stay put.  The men all left and headed for the Ponderosa.  Little Joe struggled to his feet, but as his dizziness returned,he had to hold onto the desk for a few minutes.  Then he headed out the door and got back up on the horse and he rode towards home. 

The posse stopped just before reaching the barn.  They tied up their horses and they discussed what they were going to do.  As they got ready to move towards the house, Little Joe rode up and fell off the horse, and he was unconscious.  " Darn fool boy.  Bill, you stay here with Little Joe and don't let him get up, and keep him quiet too," said Roy. 

Inside the house, the Cartwrights and Hop Sing remained tied up.  " OK Cartwright, we are gonna untie ya, so don't try anything.  I want ya to open the safe and give us the money inside.  Try anything, and you and your family are dead.  That included your sick boy upstairs, and yer cook too.  GOT THAT ?" yelled Luke.  Ben just nodded at him.  As Lan walked behind Ben to untie him, the front door suddenly burst open as the posse ran in.  Part of the posse ran out of the kitchen as well.

There were bullets flying all over the room.  When the shooting finally stopped, the gunmen were dead.  The Cartwrights, Hop Sing and the posse were all unharmed.  As the family and Hop Sing were untied, Ben said," Roy THANK GOD you all showed up.  How on earth did you know what was going on here?" asked a very relieved Ben. 

" Ben, you aren't going to believe this, but it was Little Joe.  That boy of yours somehow made it into town and he told us ya needed help.  I don't know how he did it, as sick as he is, but he did," Roy told them.  Ben, Adam, Hoss and Hop Sing couldn't believe what they had just heard.  " You've got to be kidding Roy, that boy was in NO condition to do that, " said Ben still unbelieving what Roy had told them. 

" Well,Ben, Adam Hoss and Hop Sing, he sure did and he's out behind yer barn right now," said Roy with a smile on his face. Ben, Adam, Hoss and Hop Sing took off running to Little Joe.  " JOSEPH," yelled Ben.  " He's over here Ben !" yelled Bill

Soon the Cartwrights and Hop Sing were with their little hero.  Ben kneeled down to his sleeping son.  " Joseph, Little Joe, can you hear me sweetheart?" asked Ben as he held his young son.  " Papa"... was all the boy could say before he fell into a deep sleep.  " Ben, that is some boy you have here." said Bill.  " He sure is Bill.  He's amazing sometimes," said Ben as he picked up his boy and carried him towards the house. 

"Pa, let me take him so you can talk to Roy.  Adam, Hop Sing and me will get him to bed," said Hoss as he took his little brother from Ben's arms, and he headed into the house with Adam, and Hop Sing following.

Soon Little Joe was cleaned up and back into his bed sleeping soundly.  " How is he doing?" asked Ben as he walked into the room sat down on the bed, and he felt the boy's forehead for fever.  " His fever doesn't seem much higher," said Ben.  " That's what we thought too Pa.  We bathed him, since he was sweating so bad, and his little feet were dirty from going barefooted.  He had a drink of water and fell asleep again," said Adam as he looked at his baby brother sleeping.

" I can't figure out where he found the strength to get us help.  I didn't think he even knew what was going on with those gunmen.  I guess he probably heard the man who came in here and was talking.  That man said what was going on and what they had planned to do.  I thought Little Joe was sleeping," said Ben.  " He's some boy Pa.  I'm so proud of him for what he did. He saved all our lives.  I sure hope he will be alright," Adam said.  " Me too.  Our little brother is purdy special-ain't ya punkin?" said Hoss to his sleeping baby brother. 

A couple of hours later, Dr. Paul Martin rode into the yard and knocked on the door.  " Hi Paul," said Ben.  " Hi Ben, boys.  What's this I hear about our favorite little patient riding into Virginia City earlier today ?" asked Paul with a big grin on his face.  " I tell you Ben, that boy is totally amazing.  For him to do what he did, and being so ill and weak, it's just amazing.  I think I better go and check him over."

When Paul came back down stairs, he said, " his little outing today took a lot out of him.  Just keep him bed and make sure he eats and drinks a lot of fluids.  Keep checking his fever, and he should be fine in a few weeks.  What a boy !" said Paul.

Four weeks later, Little Joe was just about all recovered which he was very happy about.  His family still wanted him to take it easy, since he still didn't have all of his strength back yet.  He did have a relapse following his little outing that day the gunmen had shown up. 

Little Joe had told his family that he had snuck out through his bedroom window to get help.  He said he felt the whole thing was like a dream.

Within a couple of more weeks, Little Joe as finally feeling like himself again, and he was back into mischief.  To his family and Hop Sing, he was their little hero and the heart of the Ponderosa.

THE END

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