Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-04-11

parsonage itself, and Ann Bartlett,
with her head upon her husbands
shoulder sobbed:
"What shall | do, Arthur!
meant to help you, and to make
them like me, and you see how it is.
1t must be my fault, but / don't
know what to do"
And the young man soothed his
weeping wife, and babe her have
good cheer, for matters would soon
mend, and all would be we'll.
He was mistaken; matters did
not mend; but grew worse, and a
year from the date of his marriage,
came to a climax. The trustees
waited upon him in his study, and
bemoaned their wrongs. They paid
fair salary, and they expected the
pastor to do his part; but he had
failed. Besides, his wife should
have been instructed in her duty
She was generally disliked; if the
minister's wife was not popular it
was very unpleasant thing. Could
he explain?
Of course the visit ended as they
expected; there was but one con.
summation possible, and in a day
or so Farmingvale knew that theii
pastor would soon leave the place
forever.
The winter set in warm and
moist, instead of cold and bracing
Everybody declared that it was
dreadful unhealthy weather" Al
length rumors of prevailing i'll
health spread over Farmingvale
and the minister packing his books
in his study, came to hear of them
Whole families of children sicken.
ed and lay low, and q dread cry
arose-"It is malignant diphtheria.
One day Arthur Bartlett left hi:
home to perform the burial service
over the graves of two children o.
one family; and the next theil
father called him to the bedside o.
his wife to see her die. And will
these deaths the horrors Of that
time never to be forgotten by any
who dwelt there began in earnest.
Men, women, and children sick.
ened with the terrible disease. Hor.
ror seized those yet unsmitten, and
they fled. Farmingvale became q
great lazaretto, and Arthur Bart.
lett said to his young wife:
LET us go quickly, darling, be.
fore the scourge falls upon oul
household"
But she, as she spoke, left her
seat, and knelt before him, resting
her head upon his breast, as he sal
before their evening fire, in child.
like fashion all her own; and as he
caressed her tenderly, whispered:
Arthur, do not bid me 60, for
must stay here, and do all l can
watch with them, pray with them
nurse them, strive to comfort the
bereaved. l should indeed be al
they think of me if 1, their pastors
wife, fled at such time. Oh, ]
cannot Co."
The man listened at first uncon'
WINGED. Ann, my dear, he sale
gently, I'VE owe them nothing
Remember, they have used us
shamefully, and l am actually their
pastor no longer"
But his wife pleaded earnestly
pleaded to stay amidst the danger,
and touching his heart by hel
sweet Christian spirit brought him
at last to consent.
And at dawn the two went forth
upon their mission. In their sci.
fish horror kinsfolk fled from eacl
other. Sisters shrunk from those
who had been nursed at the same
breast, children deserted their par.
ents, and friends grew brutal to each
other, but those two young creatures
never swerved from their appointed
task; like ministering angels they
went from house to house, aiding
the weary physician, supporting the
mothers failing courage, heaping
Goals of fire on the heads Of the
Farmingvale people. Sometimes
they were together, but more fire.
quently apart, there was so much
to do. When they could they met
in the old parsonage, but often they
were separated for several days.