Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-11-26
MISC ELL A N Y.
"REMINISCENCES OF ROBERT HOE.
BY LAURIE TODD.

"The Lord your God doth execute the
Judgment of the fatherless and widow, and
loveth the stranger E. Love ye the stran-
ger."-[ Deut. 10: 17--19.
In September, 1905, the yellow fever
prevailed to fearful extent in the city OF
New York. As never left town while it
was raging, was sitting in my tent door in
the cool of the day, and lifting up my eyes
beheld stranger, rare sight IN fever
times. He was moving from Cedar street
along Nassau, having his face set toward
Maiden Lane. He walked N the middle of
the street, and was reading the sign-boards
on the right and left. He paused in front
of nv open door, s mine was the only store
open in the block. As he stepped in, he
he said, MIR. Thorburn."
"Where did you learn my name'" l
inquired. -, -,
II saw it over the door," he said he. 81
have lust come on shore from the ship Dra-
per, from Liverpool. am carpenter by
trade nv name is Robert Hoe; am now
in my eighteenth year"
Says l. Robert was your indenture full
filled before ycu left England''
SAYS he, 81 never was bound, learned
my trade with my father; can't find work,
| have no money; can you recommend to
me house in a healthy part of the city,
where I may board till l get employment,
when will pay them honestly p
| knew the heart of stranger, having
been stranger myself, and there was so
much of honest simplicity IN his speech and
depol tment, my heart warmed toward him;
| gave him a chair, and ran up stairs says
|, "Gude wife, stranger standeth at our
door; shall we take him in - ''1f thee
pleases," she replied. eff he takes the fe-
YER, will thee help to nurse him - 81 will, ;"
she answered. THANK you dear, for this
God will bless you." "Now," says /, "come
and look on his honest English face" The
impression was favorable. SaysI, Robert,
this neighborhood is accounted the most
healthfull in the city; you will lodge here;
if you take the fever, my wife and | will
nurse you; you shant go to the strangers
hospital" His eyes spoke thanks more ell
oquent than words. AS he had no business
abroad, advised him to stay at home.
The fever seized him however, in less
than a week. procured an eminent ply
sician: my wife and | nursed him. In Sc
venteen summers that I've nursed among
the sick, do not think that ever saw
case so violent but it terminated in death,
his only excepted. On the fourth day, gen.
orally the cricis, the burning fever was
coursing through the veins and drinking up
his English blood. His skin burning, dry,
and yellow, heart-sick, all-bound sick; and
his spirits sunk down to his heels. |
sat by his bedside he fastened his restless
eyes on mine: go Mr.. T., Mr.. T., shall
die, shall die never can stand this;
and he threw his brawny arms across the
bed as if going to grapple with death"
DIE" says |, 'Robert to be sure we must
all die, but you are not going to die this
week" In this spoke unadvisedly with
my lips, but j thought OF Pope Plus and his
Bull, to wit, that the end would sanctfy the
means. He was under the influence of
powerful medicine at this moment; knew
there would be lull, as the sailors say,
soon ; and ! meant to take advantage of the
circumstance, to persuade him to live ifpos-
sible. Fancy Kills and fancy cures. left
him for fifteen minutes. On my return |
felt his pulse; said |, Robert, you are fifty
per cent. better already; hope 10 see you
walk from the bed and sit by the window
tomorrow" | sat by his bed conversing
to cheer has spirits. / continued "Death
is nigh at hand at all times and in all pla-
ces; but my impression is that you will not
die with this attack. hope to see you
thriving master builder, married to one of
our bonny Yankee lassies, and to hold your
grand-child in my arms"
From this hour the fever left him. Short
" after this the fever disappeared from the
city. lie became a master builder, and