Adirondack Sketches, Part II [pp. 773-782]

ADIRONDACK SKETCHES.
and the dozen or more women, with black shawls closely drawn
about their heads, that formed themselves in little knots before
the door, talking in a subdued voice. One of them, a woman
of coarse features and rugged build, leaving the others, pulled
the latch-string and entered.
"Glad to see you, Mrs. Poulet," said Buttons, who had led
the village in its race to the sick-house.
"Will she be at herself again?" inquired Cagy.
Throwing her head back, and letting the shawl fall on her
broad shoulders, Mrs. Poulet scornfully rejoined, "You fellows
here, drinking up all the air that the poor woman should have";
and then with stately step advanced to the sick woman's bed.
"That's a tomboy for you!" was the only remark that
slipped the tongue of the crestfallen Cagy.
"Poor Milly!" said Mrs. Poulet, bending over the sick woman;
then turning to La Flamme, who was kneeling by the bedside
of his wife, pillowing her drooping head on his tawny arm:
Better send Aily to some of the neighbors. She is breaking
her heart, poor thing."
Aily was leaning over her mother's face kissing the damp
sweat from her forehead. La Flamme did not hear; his eyes
were fastened on a rough print representing Christ as the good
pastor-bought years ago from a Jewish pedlar, and pinned to
the side wall near his bed..
"She is getting worse," said Mrs. Poulet, turning away her
head to hide her tears.
At this remark the young priest, who had stood by the foot
of the bed, now knelt by the side of it and commenced to
pray aloud in French. He was joined by a dozen voices; even
those out-of-doors knelt on the cold, damp ground to utter, in
response to the rich, bass voice of their priest, a prayer for
Milly La Flamme. The doctor, a thin, talkative man, whose
hero was Thomas Paine, removed his fur cap. This doctor
used to take my place when the roads between Snipeville and
Squidville were blocked. It is told to this day in Squidville
that his lips moved as if in prayer.
"I think it would ease her to have warm bottles to her
feet," said Mrs. Croquet, panting from her quick walk.
"You can have all the bottles you want in my store," said
Weeks.
"I'll have them in a jiffy," said Buttons, opening the door.
"It's useless," said the doctor.
"Ay, useless sure," muttered Mrs. Poulet.
780
[Mar.,