Abner Pretends to Be Sick

Originally Aired: March 30, 1938

Lum #14, "Abner Pretends to Be Sick,"

Spring fever hits Pine Ridge as Grandpappy Spears pays a visit to the Jot'Em Down Store with a tempting invitation for Abner. The fish are biting down at Big Eddy, the signs are right according to the almanac, and the Macmillan boys have been pulling in strings of white perch that would make anyone's mouth water. Grandpappy has his fishing poles ready and paints a vivid picture of sitting under that big oak tree by the riverbank while the cork bobs on the water. Abner is practically drooling at the thought, but there's one problem: he and Lum just shook hands that very morning, promising to finally devote themselves to running the store after weeks of neglecting it for outside interests like dinosaur hunting and making moving pictures.

As Grandpappy tries to convince Abner to come along, the two men scheme about possible excuses Abner could give Lum. When Lum arrives at the store, Abner faces a difficult choice between keeping his promise to his partner and answering the irresistible call of a perfect fishing day.