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the wild scramble of the rats in the wall-- the hacking and snappings of the old house itself-- the soft scramble in its grass outside of things I could not name but worse did imagine-- such stillness in- between -- then a series of shrieks pierced the darkness filled the house. It was murder and frozen with fear I stiffened -- the sick woman faintly whispered -- it is my daughter she is subject to night-mare-- you must wake her quickly -- only a thin partition between myself and those hellish noises -- I couldn't do it but I must-- My reputation as watcher was at stake -- shaking with fright I grasped the iron candle stick, the tallow drip flowing over my fingers and clutched the poor woman who sat with wide staring eyes was fast in the clutches of her horror -- She blest me for saving her but alas nobody saved me from the most awful night of my life -- I never watched again -- what a far day to this -- when men, women and children are at cards and dancing and dinners for a district nurse to be at the beck and call of the just and unjust--
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Not to be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. Transcription and commentary copyright 1998 by Martha Nell Smith, Laura Elyn Lauth, and Lara Vetter, all rights reserved Maintained by Rebecca Mooney <rnmooney@umd.edu> Last updated on January 25, 2008 |
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