The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-05-26
From the Hospital.

is in so disorganized q condition, owing
to the exigencies of cleaning house. 1t
will be only for a night or two, and we
all know what is promised to those who
receive the angel unawaresl"
And Mr. Dibble rubbed his hands and
looked smilingly around upon the men,
bers of the Young Ladies' Aid Associa-
ton, while very perceptible murmur
of assent rose up from this aggregate
collection of curls, bangs, frizzed hair
and crimped laces.
Not a damsel in the number but
would gladly have extended her hos
pitality to Rev. Felix Amory, who was
to preach sermon in aid of "home
helps and missions " at the village
church the coming Sunday evening.
Pm sure" said Miss Lydia Lark
spur, promptly anticipating the crisis,
papa would be most happy to receive
the gentleman"
While all the other ladies looked in
dignantly first at Miss Lydia and then
at each other, and whispered, "Bold
thing!"
"Most kind of you to propose it,
am sure" said Mr.. Dibble, and so the
matter was settled, not at all to the
general satisfaction.
And Lydia Larkspur went home and
issued orders that the parlor curtains
should be washed and ironed, and
pound cake of the richest nature con-
cocted.
And Kate Duer, the doctors sister,
who was as fond of young clergymen as
Lydia herself, and would in no wise
have objected to varying the monotony
of her home life with a spice of ecclesi-
astical novelty, returned to her crochet
work with yawn and a general i'm
preston that life was a bore.
eve are to have young lecturer
from the city in the church on Sunday
evening"" she said to her brother, when
he hustled in to dinner.
"Eh?" said Mr.. Duer, swallowing
his scalding soup; care we? BY the
way, Kate, there's new case of small
pox reported among those hands on the
railway embankment."
"Dear mel" said Kate, who was
compromising a refreshing salad in a
carved wooden bowl; " l hope you will
keep well vaccinated, Hugh"
ooh, there's no trouble about that
said the doctor; " only the other patients
in the hospital object to such case"
81 should think it very likely" said
Kate.
81 shall have to isolate him some
where" said DIR. Duer, thoughtfully.
"In one of those stone houses by the
river, perhaps. Old Mrs. Viggers has
had the disease, know"
And then DIR. Duer tasted the salad
and pronounced it first-rate.
pitch arvil1a yuno oil IN bo o,,s .,.,o
that day when the double-shotted piece
of tidings flew on the tongue of popular
rumor through the town. An actual
smallpox case in their midst, and
young minister coming all the way from
New York to appeal to their sympathies
on behalf of home missions.
wonder if it is contagious" said
old Mrs. Adams, looking very round
eyed through her spectacles.
Contagious'' said Mrs. Emmons;
it ought to find its way into every house
in our village.'
What" cried Mrs. McAdams;
the smallpox"
No, certainly not" said Mrs. Sim
mons; the sympathetic movement in
favor of home Missions
And then every one laughed. Mrs.
McAdams looked puzzled, and Mrs.
Emmons drew herself up and remarked
that g it was very irreverent to laugh at
sacred things"
But Miss Lydia Larkspur, whose
father did not believe in vaccination,
and who had mortal horror of the dis
ease against which the famous Jenner
waged so successful warfare, was much
troubled in her mind.
I've always had premonition that
l should fall victim to the smallpox
sighed she. g only wish pa would let
me be vaccinated!"
1t was on sultry August evening,
the sky full of lurid clouds, the air
charged with electricity, and the big
drops beginning to patter on the maple
leaves, when there sounded a knock at
Miss Lydia's door-a most mysterious
tap, as she afterward declared.
Who's there?" said Miss lydia,
opening it just sufficient to obtain a
glimpse of a tall pale man, with pocket
handkerchief folded turbanwise around
his head.
Excuse me-" said this apparition,
g but l believe l have lost my way.
Might l ask shelter from the shower?
l am the young man from the hospital"
Certainly not" said Miss Lydia,
closing the door abruptly in his face,
with little shrek. "Good gracious!
Have l stood face to face with the
smallpox case?"
And then she rang for the servant
and the camphor bottle, and went into
Mysteries.
Mrs. Printemps lived in the house
a picturesque cottage-overhung with
Virginia creepers, with little plaster
cast of Cupid in the garden, and great
many bluebells and carnations. She was
young widow who read all the new
est books and sometimes wrote gushing
poems for the second-rate monthlies.
Mrs. Printemps imagined herself like
the gifted and unfortunate Mary Queen
of Scots, and dressed up to the part, as
far as nineteenth century prejudices al
lowed her-and she was seated by the
easement, trying to find rhyme to suit
most unaccommodating line of poetry,
when the tall, pale stranger appeared
under her window, " for all the world"
as Mrs. Printemps subsequently ex-
pressed it, " like troubadore of David
Rizzio himself"
excuse me, madam" he began,
but l am from the hospital, and"
n