The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-01-21
"FRONI THE HOSPITAL"

"FROM THE HOSPITAL"
eyes, said the Rev. Mr.. Dibble, II
know I could depend upon tho hospital
ity of my flock to entertain this excellent
young divine, seeing that my cwn house
hold is in SO disorganized condition,
owing 70 the cXigencics of cleaning
house. 1t will be only for night or
two, and we all know what is promised
to those who receive the angel I'M
awarcs!'
And NJ. Dibblc rubbed his hands and
looked smilin%lv around upon the men,
bers of the Young Ladies' Aid Associa-
ton, while a very prcceptiblc murmur
of assent rose up froul this aggregate
collection Of curls, bangs, frizzcd hair,
and crimpcd lac"s.
Not II damscl in thenumber but would
gladly have extended her gracious hos
pitality to the Rev. Felix Amory, who
was to preach 4 sermon in aid of "Homc
Helps and Missons' at the village
church upon the coming Sunday eve
ming.
''rm sure" said Miss Lidia Larkspur,
promptly anticipating the crisis, papa
would be most happy to receive the gem
tleman!"
While all the other ladies looked in
dignantly first at Miss Ldia then at
each other, and whispered, BOLD
thin9h
'AloSt kind of you to promise it,
am slre," said Mr.. Dibble, and 80 the
n1atter was settled, not at all to the gen.
eral satisfaction.
And Ljdia Larkspur went home, and
issued orders that the parlor curtains
should be washed and ironed, and q
pOund-cakG Of the richest nature con-
coctcd.
While Kate Ducr, the doctors sister,
who was as fond of young clergymen as
Eidia herself, and would in no wise have
objected to varying the monotony of her
home life with spice of ecclesiastical
novelty, returned to her crochot-work
wHSl yawn and a general impression
that life was bore.
awe are to have Young lecturer
from the city in the church on Sunday
evening"" she said to her brother when
he hustled into dinner.
"Eh?' said DR.. Ducr, swallowing his
scaldlng soup; "arc we? BY the way,
Kate, there's new case of smallpox
reported among those hands on the rail-
way enbankmcnt."
Dear me" said Kate, who was COM
pounding a refreshing salad in a carved
wooden bowl; II hope you keep well
Eaccinatcd, Hugh. "
"Oh, there's no trouble about thatr'
said the doctor; "On!y the other pa
ticnts in Ia" hospital object to such
case.
81 should think It very likely" said
Kate, with little 1Mouc.
II must try to isolate him somo-
'whcre," said DR. Uucr thoughtfully.
''ln one of those stone houses by the
river, perhaps. Old Mrs Viggcrs has
had the disease, | know"
And then DR.. Duer tasted the salad
and pronounced it first-ratc.
Pitchcrville was all on tho q,n Uire
that day when the doublc-shotted piece
of tidings flew, on the tongue of popular
rumor, through the town. An actual
smallpox case in their midst, and q
\ young minister coming all the way from
/ New York to appeal to their sympathies
on behalf of home missions"
81 wonder if it is contagous!' said
old Mrs. McAdam, looking very round
eyed through her spcctaclcs.
"Contagiousn' said Mrs. Emmons; sit
ought to find it's way into every home in
our village"
"WhatH' cried Mrs McAdam; "tho
smallpox"
"No; certainly not" said Mrs. EN-
mons; ''the sympathetic movement in
favor of homo missions"
And then everyone laughed. Mrs
McAdam looked puzzled, and Mrs. En-
mons drew herself up and remarked
that "it was very ircvcrent to laugh at
sacred things"
But Miss Lidia Larkspur, whose father
dld not believe in vaccination, and who
had n mortal horror of tho disoase
against which the famous Jenner waped
SO successful warfare, was much trou-
bled in her mind.
-. I've always had sort of Fremont
ton that should fall victim to the
smallpox. sighed she. II only wish
pa would let me be vaccinatedr'
1t was on sultry August evening, the
sky full OF lurid clouds, tho air charged
with glittering arrows of electricity. and
the big drops beginning to knock mt
Miss Lidia's door--a most mysterious
tap, as she afterwards declared. -
"Who's thereP' said Miss Lidia, omen.
ing it sufficiently to obtain glimpse OF
a fall palC man with pOcket-hendker.
chief folded turbanwisc around his
head. .U
Excuse me-" said this apparition,
"but believe Ihavo lost my way. Might
ask shelter from the shower? | am the
young man frcm the hospital"
Certainly not, said Miss Lidia, clos
ing the door abruptly in his face, with
little shrek, "Good gracious! have
stood face to face with smallpox
,caseP" 80
And then she ran for the servant