Old Saint Paul's A Tale of the Plague and the Fire

adder hanging to the yard-wall. Taking the ladder away, and making all as secure as he could, he next seized his cudgel, and proceeded to Blaize's room, with the inten

itchen, he descended thither, and found him in such a pitiabl

is left hand upon his heart, the porter loudly complained of a fixed and burning pain in that region; while his mother, who was kneeling beside him, having just poured a basin

n lief zoon?" asked old Josyn

Blaize,-"there's a tu

ed Josyna, in great alarm

," rejoined Blaize. "Do

e distemper if yo

replied his mother, affectionately. "I must see

," groaned Blaize. "Leave me alon

yna, soothingly, "I'll

u de leasd pain-

," rejoined Blaize. "I can't bear it. Your f

xclaimed Josyna. "Iron nails! if you think so

ned her son. "I am no

letting fall a plentiful shower of tears on his fa

"But there's little chance of your doing

laize," responded Patience, bedewing his countenance

e. "I told Leonard Holt how it would be. I said I sh

hadn't been right in this instance. However, comfort yourself. I'll

ever mention the plague-cart again. The thought of it makes me s

Leonard thought it

aid, advancing, "you must have instant advice. Doctor Ho

atest alarm, and springing to his feet. "I am be

e afraid of owning it. But this is not a matter to be trifled with. Doctor Hodges w

t. You don't know what horrid things are done to those afflicted with my complaint. But I do,-for I have informed myself on the subject. Their

ed his mother. "Never mind de hod iron or de lance, or de blisder

t in the way you imagine. This Doctor Hodges will kill me. He is fond of trying

f jonger," replied h

My mother has lost her natural affection. She wishes to get rid

r you, dear Blaize," bl

ly necessary you sh

," vociferated Blaize. "I'll die in th

ave made good his retreat, but for

ize ran back and endeavoured to

le to refrain from laughing. "I don't think he can b

ze, still keeping Patience between him and the doctor.

t marvellous cure I ever yet effected. But, come forward

pient tumour, do you, doctor?" demanded

n reading some silly book about the disease, and have frightened yourself into the belief that you h

lt to say what he ha

ch must be like an

per precautions," rej

h?" inquired the doctor.

act the fool longer, or I will see whether your disorde

r Leonard," interposed Patience.

ay. Now speak," he added, as the porter crept tremblingly forth, "and let us hear what nostrums you have swallowed. I know you have dosed yourself wit

ize, confidently. "I have rubbed myself with vinegar, o

t?" deman

a chafing-dish to fumigate my room," replied Blaize; "

lf the remedies Leonard says you have, and which, taken in this way, are no remedies at all, since they countera

Blaize, trembling

," interposed his mother, "and says he has a large

head. "I am afraid it's not all fancy, as I at fir

laize, becoming as white

ed the doctor. "Take off your

d Leonard, seeing that Blaize he

ning his hand down the left side of the porter, and

ncle," replied Blaize; "but

ed Hodges, "and I shall

ll, about as large as a pigeon's egg, fell to the ground. Leonard

he cried, with a laugh, in which a

canth, moistened with spirit of roses; and after placing it on the chafing-dish to heat it, hung it by a string round my neck, next my dried toad. I suppose, by som

our apprehensions been well founded. As yet, you are free from infection, young man; but if you persist in this silly and pernicious practice of quacking yourself, you will infallibly bring on some fatal disorder-perhaps the plague i

ment. "Henceforth, I will drink nothi

said the doctor: "otherwise it i

commend, docdor, in my private cupboard

ied Hodges, "and a drop of

nounced it excellent, desiring that a glass might alw

eer, as long as my small sd

's back was turned, to steal a kiss from Patience, and to whisper in her ear, that if he escaped the plague, he would certainly marry her-an assurance

he person I warned you of to enter the house. When a fitt

ealth. Accompanied by his mother, who would not even allow him to say good-night to Patience, the porter then proceeded to his own room, where the old

e is a phial labelled Aqua Theriacalis Stillatitia-in plain English, distilled treacle-water. A spoonful of this couldn't hurt me. Fourthly, a packet of powders, entitled Manus Christi-an excellent mixture. Fifthly, a small pot of diatesseron, composed of gentian, myrrh, bayberries, and round aristolochia. I must just taste it. Never mind the doctor! He does not know what agrees with my constitution as well as I do myself. Physic comes as naturally to me as mother's milk. Sixthly, there is Aqua Epidemica, commonly

fully shut the drawer, and then crept into bed, and, covering h

and acquainted him that it was a false alarm, and

laize is like the shepherd's boy in the fable: he has cried 'wolf' s

ut you must not merely take care of him, but of yourself, and your household. It will be well to set a chafing-dish in the middle of the room, and scatter some of

as a filthy and mischievous habit, which nothi

my word for it, Mr. Bloundel, the plague is only beginning. When the heats of summer

"I will put into execution a scheme which has occurred to me, and which

hat is that?"

your attention. To-morrow, at as early an hour as you can make convenient, I shall hope to see you."

herbs left by the doctor. About four o'clock, a loud knocking was heard. Instantly answering the summons, Leonard found four men at the shop-door, two of

lankets, and exhibited the blotch, which had greatly increased in size, under the arm of his slumbering son. The foremost of the searchers, who kept a phial of vinegar to his nose all the time he remained in the room, then demanded in a low tone whether there were any other of the household infected? The grocer replied in the negative. Upon this, Chowles, whose manner show

ces, sir!" replied the grocer, shudderi

ecommend an experienced one," added Cho

the grocer, after a moment's refl

you a world of trouble," replied Chowles; "besides secu

searchers, and Leonard felt inexpr

he task, painted a red cross of the prescribed size-namely, a foot in length-in the middle of th