The children set down their baskets, and moved towards the spring very gladly. They found the mug, and each enjoyed a drink of the pure, cold water. While doing so, they observed that near the little barn at the rear of the house, a man was harnessing a sleek, comfortable looking horse to a market wagon, laden with cabbages and potatoes. The man was thin and white looking, and it seemed to the children as if the proper place for him were his bed. He did not see the visitors, but went on with his work. The girls having finished drinking, returned to the front door, over which still leaned the sickly girl.
"Much obliged to you," said Nelly, "it's a beautiful spring; clear and cold as ever I saw."
"'Tisn't healthy though," said the girl; "leastways, we think it's that that brings us all down with the fever every spring and fall."
"The fever!" echoed Bessie, "what fever?"
"The fever'n nager," replied the girl. "Mother is in bed with it now, and though father is getting ready to go to town to market, the shakin' is on him right powerful. I'm the only one that keeps about, and that is much as ever, too."
"What makes you drink it?" asked Bessie. "I wouldn't, if it made me so sick."
"Have to," said the girl, "there is no other water hereabouts."
"Can't your father move?" said Nelly.
The girl shook her head.