all strive with me--to dismiss selfish terrors and the horror that
begets cruelty and callousness, that we may all of us do our duty
towards those about us, and show that even the scourge of a
righteous and offended God may become a blessing if taken in
meekness and humility."

Then the good man proceeded to say what precautions he was about to
take for the preservation of his family. He did not propose to fly
the city. He had many valuable goods on the premises, which he
might probably lose were he to shut up his house and leave. He had
no place to go to in the country, and believed that the scourge
might well follow them there, were every householder to seek to
quit his abode. Moreover, never was there greater need in the city
for honest men of courage and probity to help to meet the coming
crisis and to see carried out all the wise regulations proposed by
the Mayor and Aldermen. He had resolved to join them--since
business was like to be at a standstill for a while--and do
whatsoever a man could do to forward that good work. His son Reuben
was of the same mind with him; whilst his wife would far rather
face the peril in her own house than go out, she knew not whither,
to be perhaps overtaken by the plague on the road. Her heart had
yearned over the sick ever since she had heard her daughter's
harrowing tale, and knew that her sister was at work amongst the
stricken. She knew not what she might be able to do, but she
trusted to her husband for guidance, and would be entirely under
his direction.

Some citizens spoke of victualling their houses as for a siege, and
entirely secluding themselves and their families till the plague
was overpast--and indeed this was many times done with success,