Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-03-18
FROM THE HOSPITAL" !"

Yes, " said the Rev. Mr.. Dibble, II
knew | could depend upon the hospitality
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 prom
ised to those who receive the angel un-
awaresI
And Mr.. Dibble rubbed his hands and
looked smilingly around upon the members
Of the Young Ladies' Aid Association,
while a very perceptible murmur Of as
sent rose up from this aggregate collection
OF clrls, 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 vii
lage church upon the coming Sunday
evening.
I'm sure" said Miss Lydia Larkspur,
promptly anticipating the crisis, s'papa
would be most happy to receive the gen
tleman'
While all the other lalies looked in
dignantly first at Miss Lydia, then at
each other, and whispered ssBold
thingr
'Most kind Of you to propose it, am
sure, I" said Mr.. Dibble, and so the matter
was settled, not at all to the general sat
isfaction.
And Lydia Larkspur went home and
issued orders that the parlor curtains
should be washed and ironed, and a
pound cake Of the richest nnture CON
cocted.
While Kate Duer, the doctors sister,
who was as fond of young clergyman as
lydia herself, and would in no wise have
objected to varying the monotonyof her
home-life with a spice of ecclesiastical
novelty, returned to her crochet work
with yawn and general impression
that life was bore
1--WE are to have young lecturer from
the city in the church on Sunday even
ing, she said to her brother, when he
hustled into dinner.
''Eh2" said Mr.. Duer, swallowing his
scalding soup; "are WEI BY the way,
Kate, there's a new case of smallpox re-
ported among those hands on the railway
embankment
"Dear mel" said Kate, who was com
pounding refreshing salad in carved
wooden bowl; 'T hope you keep well
vaccinated, Hugh"
"Oh, there's no trouble about thatr'
said the doctor; "only the other patients
in the hospital object to such case. y
II should think it very likely" said
Kate, with little moue.
81 must try to isolate him somewhere, r
said DR.. Duer, thoughtfully 'In one Of
those stone houses by the river, perhaps.
Old Mrs. Viggers has had the disease, I
know
And then Dr. Duer tasted the salad and
pronounced it first rate.
Pitcherville was all on the qqi vive that
day when the double-shotted piece of It'd
ings few, on the tongue Of popular ru-
NOR, through the town. An actual
smallpox case in their midst, and young
minister coming all the way from New
York to appeal to Il cir sympathies on be-
half of home missions.
Il wonder if it is contagiousl' said
old Mrs. McAdams, looking very round
eyed through her spectacles.
"Contagiousl'' Y said Mrs. Emmons; cit
ought to find its way into every house in
our village
"What p cried Mrs. McAdams ssthe
smallpox"
No; certainly not said Mrs. EN-
mons; "the sympathetic movement in ia
vor Of home missions. .
And then everyone laughed. Mrs. Nc
Adams looked puzzled, and Mrs. En-
mons drew herself up and remarked that
''it was very irreverent to laugh at sacred
things. .
But Miss Lydia Larkspur, whose father
did not believe in vaccination, and who
had a mortal horror Of the disease against
which the famous Jenner waged so sue
cessful warfare, was much troubled in
her mind.
I've always had sort Of premonition
that should fall victim to the small
pox," sighed she. i only wish pa
would let me be vaccinatedln
/ 1t was on sultry August evening, the
sky full Of lurid clouds, the air charged
with glittering arrows Of electricity, and
the big dro:ss beginning to patter on the
maple leaves, when there sounded knock
at Miss Lydia's door most mysterious
tap, as she afterward declared
WHO'S there said Miss Lydia, open
1 ing it just sufficiently to obtain glimpse