The last leaf

Sue and johnsy, two young artists, shared a small flat. The flat was on the third storey of an old house.

Johnsy fell very seriously ill in November. she had pneumonia. She would lie in her bed without moving, just gazing out of the window. Sue, her friend, became very worried. She send for the doctor. Although he came every day there was on change in Johnsy' s condition.

One day the doctor took sue aside and asked her, " Is anything worrying Johnsy? "

" No, " replied sue, "But why do you ask?"

The doctor said "Johnsy, it seems, has made up her mind that she is not going to get well. If she doesn't want to live, medicines will not help her."

Sue tried her bast to make Johnsy take an interest in things around her. She talked about clothes and fashions, but Johnsy did not respond. Johnsy continued to lie still on her bed. Sue brought her drawing- board into Johnsy's room and started painting. To take Johnsy's mind off her illness, she whistled while working.

Suddenly sue heart Johnsy whisper something. She quickly rushed to the bed and heart Johnsy counting backwards. She was looking out of the window and was saying,  "Twelve!" After something she whispered " "eleven," then " ten, " then "nine", " eight"  "seven." Sue anxiously locate out of the window. she saw an old ivy creeper climbing half- way up the brick wall opposite their window. In the strong wind outside,  the creeper was shedding its leaves.

" What is it, dear? "Sue asked.

"Six," whispered Johnsy. "They are falling faster now. There there days ago there were almost a hundred leaves. There are only five lift new."

"It is autumn," said Sue, "and the leaves will fall."

"When the last leaf fails I  will bie," said  Johnsy withfinality. " I have known these for the last there days. "

"Oh, that's nonsense," replied Sue. "What have old ivy leavs to do with your getting well.The doctor is confident that you will get better."