Angel Agnes | Page 8

his
countenance.
"Yes," replied Agnes; "and," added she, "my name is not what you call
it, but Agnes Arnold."
"Well, now, don't think I wuz callin' yer that fur sass, Missus Arnold,
for I wuz not. I'll hurry along now, for I've got a heap to do this mornin'.
Things is a gittin' wuss an' wuss every day."
"I hope they will soon mend," said Agnes, fervently; "good day."
"Good-by, Missus Arnold, an' I hope God'll take best care uv you,
anyhow," answered the driver.
"I trust in Him always, and you should also put your faith in Him. He is
strong to save."

With this admonition to her rough companion, Agnes turned back into
the rear room, and removing her hat and shawl, set herself about
kindling a fire to prepare some little nourishment for her sick charges.
As the Burtons happened to keep a grocery store, she had no difficulty
in selecting material fitted for her object.
They all continued on the mend until the succeeding day, when the
physician having that district in charge made them a visit. He was
completely astonished upon finding how favorably the surviving cases
had turned out, and he held quite a long conversation with Agnes in
regard to what she had done, after which he remarked:
"Indeed, Miss Arnold, I must confess to you that I feel disposed to
credit these recoveries entirely to your faithful and intelligent nursing.
For to tell you the truth, the modes of treatment which we physicians
have hitherto used in cases showing the symptoms that these did, has
failed in nearly eighty per cent. of every hundred. But it is true enough
sometimes, that many of these 'grandmother remedies' as we call them,
are more efficacious than any others."
"This is not a grandmother's remedy, Doctor," smilingly replied Agnus.
"It was told to me some years ago in New Orleans."
She here concisely narrated to him the history of her experience when
she helped to nurse her father in the latter city.
"Who was it told you, Miss Arnold? was it Dr. Robinson? He was
noted about that period for his success in treating bad cases of the
fever.
"No, sir, it was a Spanish gentleman, who had lived many years in
Havana. Once in Vera Cruz he took the vomito, and was saved by this
treatment.
"Most astonishing!" mused the doctor. "I shall not fail to try it."
"I have another remedy which is equally efficient in small-pox, Doctor,

that I got from the same gentleman. You might find it useful at some
time, and I assure you I have never known it to fail even in the worst
cases.
"Thank you, I will accept it with pleasure."
Miss Arnold repeated the following, and the doctor took it carefully
down in his note book:
"As soon as the headache comes, and the chill down the back, and the
stomach becomes sick, and the limbs begin to ache, clear the stomach
with a strong emetic, put the feet in hot mustard water several times
during the next twelve hours. Talk very often and encouragingly to the
patient as the insanity begins to show itself. As soon as the thirst sets in,
give frequently alternate small drinks of cold Indian meal gruel--no
butter in the gruel--and moderately large drinks of the best plain black
tea, hot, without milk or sugar. Occasionally the gruel may be changed
and made of oatmeal, and the tea have a bit of toasted bread in it. As
the disorder goes through its course, and a craving sets in, humor this at
once with moderate supplies of what is craved. Air the room twice or
three times each day, taking great care to cover up the patient
completely, head and all, while the doors and windows are open. Keep
the room dark, and at an even temperature. Pat the face, arms, &c., with
warm barley water, and then with a feather oil the whole surface with
sweet oil. This prevents all itching and pitting, or marks."
[Illustration: Poor, noble Anges was so wearied out, that she got asleep
while she walked with the baby, and stepping too near the stairway, she
fell all the way down.]
"Truly a plain and simple remedy," remarked the doctor, as he put
away his book, "I shall not fail to try it also, if I should ever come
across any cases of variola."
"And you may depend on it, Doctor," said Agnes, "that it will never fail
when properly and intelligently carried out."
As he turned to leave, the physician said:

"Miss Arnold, please stay here until I send you a note or a messenger,
which I will do within an hour or an hour and a half."

A STRANGE INCIDENT.
In less than the specified time a