“Tell me, my dear sir, can you do nothing more for this woman?”
He shook his head, and then turned away.
“Then you are willing,” she continued, “I should do what I can to make her more comfortable while she lives?”
“Certainly,” said Mr. N.
“Certainly,” repeated the doctor. “If you can do anything for her comfort, do it, for she cannot stay with us long.”
As he said this, he left the house, and Mrs. T. applied herself to her task. She directed the friends to get some hot water, bricks, &c., while she sent a boy for some herbs; she wrote a note, and requested him to carry it to the man with whom she had been living. He soon returned with the articles. What she gave the patient to drink, we do not know; but we soon saw its effects. The cold sweat was wiped from her limbs—bottles of hot water were placed around her—a plaster was applied to her stomach, and, in a short time, she sank into a sweet sleep, which continued an hour or two, when she awoke, and began to vomit. The friends were now much alarmed, and thought she must certainly die. But the joyful expression of Mrs. T.’s countenance, told them that she, at least, had no fears of a fatal result.
Through the day and night, the nurse continued her exertions for her friend; and the next morning, when the kind and sympathizing doctor came in to look at the corpse, he was very much surprised to find his patient sitting up in bed, eating a bowl of porridge!
Turning to the nurse, he asked, “What did you give this woman?”
“Herb tea, sir!” she answered, in a tone of voice which forbade further questioning.
Mrs. N. still lives, and, when her children are sick, she gives them HERB TEA!