Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-04-04
to his wife, who had anxiously watched

HTillie I met DIR. Holmes on my way
home, and tells me that there have been
three cases of scarlet fever from the school.
1t is raging fearfully he says.
Mrs. Turn oyle turned very pale.
Tin the school?7' she murmured,
well. among the scholars" f
There was little more to say, but the
heart Of each parent sent up a petition to
a kidd and heavenly Father. to keep the
plague from their door.
4 Yet it. came. A week. later Mark sick
,ened, and in three days more all three
were down., Tenderest nursing, loving
care and unexpected docility of patients,
broughts the little Turmoyles safely out
upon the road to health again.
The most anauseous medicines were
swallowed if mamma" coaxed, and the
most stringent stiffness was observed when
papa was discovered to have tears in his
eyes at Bessle's crib.
The day the children assembled in the
sitting-room for the first tea-drinklng was
gala day, but papa was observed to have
sad faee.
"While we are thankful, dear children"
he said, ''for our bless ngs, let US not for
get to sympathize with the sorrows of
others. Willie and Maud Stone were
buried to-day, and Amy will be deaf for
life. The others are still very ill.," od
At bedtime, when the children slept the
sleep Of conyalescence, Mr.. Turmoyle
came to the nursery, whera his little blue
eyed wife was laying out the morning
clothing.
''Tillie,'' he said, drawing the little wo-
man close to his strong arms, 81 had a
long talk with DR.. Holmes to-day, and I
cannot rest till I thank you for.our I'M
you saved the children"
81 am sure you never spared yourself in
nursing said Mrs. Turmoyle.
"The nursing was the smallest part Of
it. DR.. Holmes says it was not the scar
let fever that killed Stones children, but
their mothers system The fever found
overtaxed brains, bodies weakened by want
OF exercise, tempers made sullen by a de-
privation of all childish pleasure. They
were nursed by SYSTEM no allowance
made for suffering or weakness; and the
two that are gone but precede the two
now dangerously i'll. If they recover from
the fever they will never reach maturity
unless the mother sees her error. You
may thank your wife's management for
your own children,' the doctor said to
me; there was something to build on in
the sturdy frames Of those young
savages.'
Mrs. Stone could see no fault in her sys-
tenn, though two little graves attested its
| the fever, found no relaxation of home
rule, ard. pale and dull-eyed, went back to
the old routine.
| -Four years passed away, and Tom left
| home for boarding school, a gentlemanly
| boy of sixteen, we'll up in his studies and
in perfect health. Driving home from the
| station, after starting him upon his jour-
ney. Mr.. and Mrs. Turmoyie passed Mr..
Stones handsome house, prim and spot
less, and no signs of busy little feet on
walk or border.
Poor Stone!'' said Mr.. Turmoyle, che
frets sadly for Amy"
''It was hard to lose her, the last of the
fve," sal Mrs. Turmoyle; "and she was
such patient child, after she had lost her
hearing.''
''Too patient! There will be no need now
of any system in training. Five children
|
we have not such a home as the one we
have just passed. Thank God for merry
voices, clear laughter, noisy feet, and even
the crying of our baby May. May He
guard and bless our little ones, and give
them good health, good principles and hap
plness, rather than give us the doubtful
blessing of quiet home"