of so much that was terrible and awesome, and yet beginning to
understand somewhat of the horror that was possessing the minds of
all. He found himself walking in the middle of the street, and
avoiding too close contact with the passersby; indeed all seemed
disposed to give strangers a wide berth just now, so that it was
not difficult to avoid contact.

Yet crowds were to be seen, too, at many open spaces. Sometimes a
fervid preacher would be declaiming to a pale-faced group on the
subject of God's righteous judgments upon a wicked and licentious
city. Sometimes a wizened old woman or a juggling charlatan would
be seen selling all sorts of charms and potions as specifics
against the plague. Joseph pressing near in curiosity to one of
these vendors, found him doing a brisk trade in dried toads, which
he vowed would preserve the wearer from all infection. Another had
packets of dried herbs to which he gave terribly long names, and
which he declared acted as an antidote to the poison. Another had
small leaflets on which directions were given for applying a
certain ointment to the plague spots, which at once cured them as
by magic. The leaflets were given away, but the ointment had to be
bought. Those, however, who once read what the paper said, seldom
went away without a box of the precious specific.

Joseph would have liked one himself, but had no money, and was
further restrained by a sense of conviction that his father would
say it was all nonsense and quackery.

Church bells were ringing, and many were tolling--tolling for the
dead, and ringing the living into the churches, where special
prayers were being offered and many excellent discourses preached,