Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-01-31
TRAPPING THE MUSKRAT. MAR|HAS VACCINATION.
A True Story of a Teacher,
Physician, and a Pupil
Who Didn't Roll up Her
Sleeve Like the Others.


In one of our public schools not
long since. physician was i'll attend.
ance to carry out the provisions of the
compulsory vaccination enactment. II
was i'll the primary department. and
each tot came bravely up to the desk tc
submit to the ordeal After having
their tender flesh pricked by the
dreaded" vaccine points and the "won-
derful" virus inserted, they were sent
To the rear of the room and required to
stand in row until the arm should be
thoroughly dried. The long line of
boys and girls, each with the sleeve
ripped and rolled up to the shoulder,
and with faint tinge of color appear
ing on the arm, presented motley APP
pearance. while their young faces, ex-
hibiting varying phases of pri lie, curl
osity. trouble and perplexity, formed an
interesting study.
Finally. the last pupil was reached.
and Martha ---, a demure and coy
maiden of six, was called. Now of all
the pupils in the room, Martha was the
only one who had not proceeded to ex'
pedite the physicians work by rolling
up her sleeve i'll advance. When called
to come forward she advanced obedient.
~ to the desk, while look of shame
and maiden modesty overspread hel
face.
You must roll up your sleeve. Mar.
tha." advised the teacher in a gentle
tone.
please ma am" blurted out Martha,
please teacher" and tears began to
trickle slowly down her cheek.
well, Martha, what is it," inquired
the teacher with a frown and rising
infection plainly noticeable in hel
voice.
Teacher, IL I've been vacclnated,'
said Martha. and she gave a knowing and
beseeching look to her teacher. How.
ever. "teacher" was without under
standing, and continued the inquisition
"You must show the doctor the scar
Martha, admonished the teacher firmly
"Yes, Martha" insisted the profes
sional man. eager in the performance OF
his duty, "you must let me see YOU
scar"
please doctor, please teacher" i'm
plored the child, and up went two
chubby fists in Martha's tear-bedewed
eyes.
Come, Martha" commanded the
teacher impatiently, "let the doctor see
your scar
"Yes, MARTHA" supplemented the
kind doctor. ''let me see your scar, like
a good child"
please. teacher. III wasn't vacci
mated on the arm" gasped the child in
a perfect agony, as she hung her head
in very shame.
For moment there was profound 81
lence throughout the room. while con.
sternation, wonderment, and curiosity
each in quick succession. was depicted
on the faces of the pupils.
Her must ave been waxinated in
New York. ventured the wag of the
school, but this witticism failed to pen
citrate the perception of the class. and
brought look of disapproval from the
teacher.
A look of commiseration and pit y
for little Martha was plainly discernible
on the faces of the pupils. their pure
minds being slow to grasp the real sit.
uation, and unable to conceive of a
plight so terrible, for they were con.
convinced that something dreadful had
befallen Martha. who had been vacci-
mated in some mysterious manner, by
some mysterious person and on some
mysterious place besides the arm. Not
so the teacher, for she very properly
blushed in pretty confusion. and not SC
the doctor, who was not slow in evolv
ing theory of his own, for he replied
to the thoroughly frightened child, in
perfectly calm. judicious and profes
sional tones, (but wholly irrelevant to
the matter under discussion), "Martha
you needn't pull down your stocking. :