But the remedy was of little avail.

Before daybreak, he was seized with the distemper, and died two days afterwards.
"I hope poor Kerrich hasn't got the plague ?" said the old woman, in a tremulous tone.
"I am afraid he has," replied the daughter-in-law, "but I didn't like to alarm him." "Mercy on us!" cried the other, getting up.

"What a dreadful scourge it is." "You would say so, if you had seen whole families swept off by it, as I have," replied Judith.

"But it mostly attacks old persons and children." "Lord help us!" cried the crone, "I hope it will spare me.

I thought my age secured me." "Quite the reverse," replied Judith, desirous of exciting her mother-in-law's terrors; "quite the reverse.