The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-01-27
FROM THE HOSPITAL"

4
III knew | could depend upon the
pitality of my flock to entertain
this excellent young divine, seeing
that my own household is in so dis
organized a 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 unawares !"
And Mr.. Dibble rubbed his hands
and looked smilingly around upon
the members of the Young Ladies'
Aid Association, while very per
ceptible murmur of assent rose up
from this aggregate collection of
curls, bangs, frizzed hair, and crimp-
ed laces
Not a Gamsel in the number but
would gladly have extended her gra-
! cious hospitality to the Rev. Felix
Amory. who was to preach sermon
in aid of Home Helps and Mis-
sionsn at the village church upon the
coming Sunday evening.
"I'm sure" said Miss Ida Lark
spur, promptly anticipating the cri-
sis, papa would be most happy to
receive the gentleman"
While all the other ladies looked
, Indignantly first at Miss Ida then
at each other, and whispered, BOLD
thing !"
"Most kind OF you to promise it. /
am sure" said Mr.. Dibble, and so
the matter was settled, not at all to
the general satisfaction.
And Ida Larkspur went home,
and issued orders that the parlor
curtains should be washed and IRON
ed, and a pound cake of the richest
nature concocted.
While Kate Duer. the doctors sis
ter, who was as fond of young cler
gymen as Lidia herself, and would
IN no wise have objected 20 varying
the monotony of her home life with
spice OF ecclesiastical novelty. re-
turned to her crochet work with
yawn and a general impression that
life was a bore.
1--WE are to have a young lecturer
from the city in the church on Sun
dav evening"" she said to her broth
er when he hustled into dinner.
"Eh?" said DIR. Duer, swallowing
his scalding soup; ''are We? BY the
way. Kate, there's a new case of
smallpox reported among those
hands OF the railway enbaDkment." :"
Dear me p said Kate, who was
compounding refreshing salad in
carved wooden bowl 81 hope you
keep well vaccinated. Hugh
''Ob, there's no trouble about
that r. said the doctor; only the 9th
er patients in the hospital object to
such case.
81 should think it verv likely"
said Kate, with little moue.
Il must try to isolate MIN some
where said DR.. Duer thoughtfully.
In one of those stone houses by the
river, perhaps. Old Mrs. Viggers
has had the disease. | know"
Add then DR.. Duer tasted the sal
ad and pronounced it first-rate.
Pilcherville was all on the qui rire
that day when the double-shoited
piece of tidings few, on the tongue
of popular rumor. through the town.
An actual small pox case in their
midst, and young minister coming
all the way from New York to APP
peal to their sympathies on behalf
of home missions"
Il wonder if it is contagious :"
said old Mrs. McAdam, looking very
roundeyed through her spectacles.
Contagious ?" said Mrs Emmons;
at ought 10 find its way into every
home in our village" )"
Whati' cried Mrs. McAdam ''the
smallpox y
No; certainly not" said Mrs.
Emmons "the sympathetic move
ment in favor of home missions"
And then everyone laughed. Mrs.
McAdam looked puzzled, and Mrs.
Emmons drew herself up and re-
marked that ''it was very irreverent
to laugh at sacred things"
But Miss Lidia L.arkspur, whose
Iather did not believe in vaccination.
and who had mortal horror of the
disease against which the famous
Jenner waged SO successful war
fare, was much troubled in her mind.
aI've always had sort of premo-
milton that l should fall a victim to
the smallpox" sighed she. Il on
ly wish pa would let me be vacci-
mated !"
1t was on a sultry August evening
the sky full of lurid clouds, the air
charger with plittering arrows of
and the big drops begin
ming to kock at Miss Lidia's door-a
most mysterious tap, as she after
wards declared.
"Who's there ?" said Miss Lidia,