Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-04-26

like me, and you see how it is 1t
must be my fault, but I don't know
what to do
And the young man soOthed his
weeping wife, and bade her have good
cheer for matters would soon mend,
and all would be we'll
He was mistaken; matters did not
mend; they 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 dis
liked; if the minister's wife was not
popular it was a very unpleasant
thing. Could he explain?
Of course the visit ended as they
expected; there was but one cOnsum-
nation possible, and in day or so
Farmingvale knew that their pastor
would soon leave the place forever.
The weather set in warm and moist.
instead of cold and bracing. Every
body declared that it was dreadful
unhealthful weather" At 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 sickened and lay low, and
dread cry arose-"It is malignant
diphthera. %
One day Arthur Bartlett left his
home to perform the burial service
over the graves of two children of one
family; and the next the father
called him to the bedside of his wife
to see her die. And with these deaths
the horrors of that time, never to be
forgotten by any who dwelt there,
began in earnest.
Men, women and children sickened
with the terrible disease. Horror
seized those yet unsmitten, and they
fed. Farmingvale became a great
lazaretto, and Arthur Bartlett said to
his young wife
"Let US go quickly, darling, before
the scourge falls upon our household.
But she, as she spoke, left her seat,
and knelt before him, resting her head
upon his breast, as he sat before their
evening fire, in a child-like fashion
all her own; and as he caressed her
tenderly, whispered
Arthur, do not bid me go, for |
must stay here, and do all | can
watch with them, pray with them,
nurse them, strive to comfort the be-
reaved. I should, indeed, be all they
think of me if l, their pastors wife,
fled at such a time. Oh, | cannot
60"
The man listened at first uncon-
vinced. Gam, my dear" he said
gently, 1--WE owe them nothing. Re-
member, they have used us shame
fully, and am actually their pastor
no longer"
But his wife pleaded earnestly;
pleaded to stay amidst the danger,
and touching his heart by her sweet
Christian spirit brought him at last to
consent.
And at dawn the two went forth
upon their mission. In their selfish
horror kinsfoIk fed from each other.
Sisters shrunk from those who had
been nursed at the same breast
children deserted their parents, 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 togeth-
er, but more frequently apart; there
was so much to do. When they could
they met in the old parsonage, but
often they were separated for several
days. But their prayers. followed
each other always 1t was a trying
time, but they were very faithful and
courageous. Some of these who had
been most cruel to Ann Bartlett were
her patients now, and lay helpless as
infants while she watched over them.
When, save for her, no friend had
watched beside the couch of loathe-
some disease; when her own hands
robed the dead infant for its last
sleep; when she sat all night in the
death-room, and it was known to all
what mission she had taken upon her.
self, wonder filed the village, and In