The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-01-07
ssFROM THE HOSPITAL"

"EROM The HOSPITAL.'
Yes" said the Rev. Mr.. Dibble, 81
know l could depend upon the hospital
ity of my flock to entertain this excellent
young divine, seeing that my own house
hold is in so disorganized condition,
owing to the exigencies of cleaning
house 1t will be only for night or
two, and we all know what is promised
to those who receive the angel un-
awaresr'
And Mr.. Dibble rubbed his hands and
looked smilingly around upon the mem
bers of the Young Ladies' Aid Associa-
ton, while very preceptible murmur
of assent rose up from this aggregate
collection of curls, bangs, frizzed hair,
and crimped laces.
Not damsel in the number but would
gladly have extended her gracious hos
pitality to the Rev Felix Amory, who
was to preach sermon in aid of Home
Helps and Missions at the village
church upon the coming Sunday eve
ming.
I'm sure" said Miss Lidia Larkspur,
promptly anticipating the crisis, papa
would be most happy to receive the gen
tlemanr'
While all the other ladies looked in
dignantly first at Miss Lidia then at
each other, and whispered, Bold
thingr'
Most kind of you to promise it, |
am sure,' said Mr.. Dibble, and so the
matter was settled, not at all to the gen
eral satisfaction
And Lidia Larkspur went home, and
issued orders that the parlor curtains
should be washed and ironed, and
pound-cake of the richest nature con-
cocted.
While Kate Duer the doctors sister,
who was as fond of young clergymen as
Lidia herself, and would in no wise have
objected to varying the monotony of her
home life with spice of ecclesiastical
novelty, returned to her crochet-work
with a yawn and general impression
that life was bore.
eve 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 DIR. Duer, swallowing his
scalding soup; ''are we? By the way,
Kate, there's new case of smallpox
reported among those hands on the rail-
| way enbankmentn
pounding refreshing salad in carved
wooden bowl; Il hope you keep well
vaccinated, Hugh"
"Oh, there's no trouble about thatn'
said the doctor; ''only the other pa
tients in the hospital object to such a
| case.
81 should think it very likely said
Kate, with little nl0ue.
a must try to isolate him some
where" said Dr. Duer thoughtfully
''In one of those stone houses by the
river, perhaps. Old Mrs. Vig,gers has
had the disease, | know"
And then DR.. Duer tasted the salad
| and pronounced it first-rate.
Pitcherville was all on the qui TiCe
that day when the double-shotted piece
of tidings flew, on the tongue of popular
| rlmor, through the town. An actual
smallpox case in their midst, and a
young minister coming all the way from
New York to appeal to their sympathies
on behalf of home missions.
Il wonder if it is contagious" said
old Mrs. McAdam. looking very round
eyeu through ner SpecldcleS.
.'Contagiousr' said Mrs Emmons: sit
ought to find its way into every home in
our village"
WHAT cried Mrs. MeAdam; ''the
smau-poxi''
mo; certainly not said Mrs. En-
mons; ''the sympathetic movement in
favor of home missions"
And then everyone laughed Mrs.
McAdam looked puzzled. and Mrs. En-
mons drew herself up and remarked
that lit was very irreverent to laugh at
sacred things"
But Miss Lidia Larkspur, whose father
did not believe in vaccination, and who
had mortal horror of the disease
against which the famous Jenner waged
so successful a warfare, was much trou-
bled in her mind.
I've always had sort of premoni-
ton that should fall victim to the
smallpox" sighed she. Il only wish
pa would let me be vaccinatedr
1t was on sultry August evening the
sky full of lurid clouds. the air charged
with glittering arrows of electricity, and
the big drops beginning to knock at
Miss Lidia's door-a most mysterious
tap. as she afterwards declared.
..Who's there?n said Miss Lidia. open
ing it sufficiently to obts.n a glimpse OF
tall pale man with pocket-handker-
chief folded turbanwise around his
head.
Excuse me-" said this apparition,
"but believe l have lost my way. Might
| ask shelter from the showere am the
young man from 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
case?n
And then she ran for the servant
and the camphor-bottle, and went into
mysteries.
Mrs. Printemps lived in the next
house-a picturesque cottage, overhung
with Virginia-creepers, with little
plaster cast of Cupid in the garden, and
a great many bluebells anu carnations
"a young widow who read all the new