The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-20
.MY LITTLE BOY

NIX LITTLE BUY ..
 CHAPTER XXI
 THE summer had been very iA busy one for the VIVA There was a good deal of sickness, al- though while there had been few polio cases, the disease had by no, means reached the proportions of an epidemic. But there was per- sistent, summer flu and colds, and, finally, as Emil had feared, an outbreak of typhoid in the mill section.
 She spoke bitterly to Frank about it. She said, "If you'd done as I suggested!"
 T did," he said, but Garter bucked me. The Board of Health people seemed to think that every things all right. hadn't the least idea"
 You thought I was hysterical? We'll, wasn't. I've no business saying this, but Doctor Sellop isn't the man for the job. He's old, he's ill, he delegates his authority to other people people who can be bought"
 Do you mean that old Carter p" began Frank, startled.
 Find out for yourself" she said, "a little money spent on your housing problem would have saved all this lot less money than may have been spent on bribes in the long run"
 The Elsters were settled now John Elster had his job, and Doc- tor Mannering had given him the small cottage which he owned, next door to his own house Mrs Elster helped Nellie, in lieu of rent, and Mary was free to run and play. Mrs. Elster, with rest, good food and freedom from anxiety was very much stronger, and could do light work, and the sewing. Now and then when she had some free time Emily stopped in to see them.
 The Elsters, Hilda and Gus, were only two of a dozen such cases, with whom she kept in touch long after her actual services were re- quired.
 TOWARD September no new polio Il cases were reported, but Sep- tember was unseasonably warm and the medical men in Cranberry watched anxiously for a fiare-up. Shortly after school opened Emily, walking along one of Cranberry's meaner streets, was almost knocked down by a frantic woman rushing out of a shabby, tumbledown house, which sat squat and paintless next to vacant lot :. .
 Nurse . p
 "Yes ?"
 For Gods sake" stammered the woman my little boy :"
 She was utterly distracted, a slatternly creature in house dress and not much else. She was pregnant. and near the end of her time. Her graying hair was tucked up under soiled cap of pink net, her bare feet thrust into bedroom slippers.
 Emily followed her into the house which contained a boiling hot kitchen, 8 room which might have been living room but which was used as bedroom; a back bedroom, dark hall and no bath.
 There were several children, all close together in age, all dirty. One, the oldest, was a level-eyed little girl of about ten, who kept batting her mother futilely, assur- ing her, 'the nurse will take care of Timmy. won't you, nurse?"
 Timmy was in the back bed- room. He was five. He was an emaciated child with big brown eyes and a mop of curling red hair. He lay in a short, soiled | nightshirt on the tumbled bed, and when Emily looked at him her heart sank. s.HAS he had cold?" she asked. |
 III after moment.
 The woman - her name was Reman, was voluble Just a | sore throat, she said, the kids often | had sore throats. Yes, he coughed | some.
 "Vomiting?'
 She had thought it was some thing he had eaten, Mrs. Reman explained, kids were always eating | something they shouldn't.
 Has he been like this long?" asked Emily.
 Like what?"
 "Drowsy,' said Emily She spoke to the child, clearly. She asked, Does your head ache, Timmy?"
 Timmy whimpered and put hls hand to his forehead. His head did ache, dreadfully.
 His mother said. T didn't think It was nothing. But just a little while ago he had like a fit.''
 ConvulSions, thought Emily. She asked, T1mmy, can you move your neck, is your neck stiff?'
 .Timmy's neck was very stiff.
 Pulse, temperature. She said to