Cherry & Violet: A Tale of the Great Plague

WHEN I returned to my Reason, it was with an inexpressible Sense of Weakness and Weariness. The first Thing I saw was dear _Violet’s_ Face close to mine, her large, dark Eyes fi...

BEFORE I went to Bed, I peeped out of my Window, and saw the full Moon shining over the broad gravel Walks and Fishponds; and I thought how much I should like to go round the Ga...

AND now the glorious Restoration at length arrived, and ’tis incredible what a Spur it was to Trade, and how the Mercers and Drapers could hardly supply their Customers fast eno...

My Father about this Time seemed dull and sorry of Cheer. I asked him if aught ailed him in Body or Mind, or had gone wrong in his Affairs. He said, no—that he was sensible of a...

NEXT Day, the Holiday of Life was over, its Duties re-commenced. Master _Blower_ had an Accumulation of Business to attend to, and I had Plenty to do about the House. Before the...

THE only Person in the Boat, who was left for the Boatman to save, was Mistress _Glossop_, the Widow of a _Cheapside_ Hairdresser in a much larger Way of Business than my Father...

WHEN I see what a little Way the Solemnisation of Matrimony in the Common Prayer Book lies from the Burial-service for the Dead, (only separated by the Order for the Visitation...

AND now my Memory flies on to the Time when, I suppose, I was as happy a Girl as any on the _Bridge_. I know not whether I were pretty or not,—I rather suppose I was, but my Fat...

WHEN I returned Home, my Neighbours looked strangely on me, as though I were one risen from the Dead, after nursing two People through the Plague without Hurt. I said not much,...

VIOLET seemed afraid (and yet why should she be?) to come near me, after _Mark’s_ Communication; and, as my dear Mother could ill spare me, I kept close House. We now felt the B...

OH! how dreary now seemed the House! Its Light and its Life were gone. The unseen Presence of Love no longer gladdened it, and the Shadow of Death was slowly creeping on.

I WONDER whether many People, on reviewing their past Lives, feel as I do on looking back on mine; that, had they had the ordering the outward Circumstances connected with them...

IT was now Supper-time; and _Mark_, having lessened the Sense of his Troubles by telling of them, although he began by thinking he could not eat a Mouthful, ended by making a ve...

DOLLY and I had spent great Part of the Afternoon in brushing up and cleaning an old black riding Skirt of my Mother’s, which it was a Wonder I had not cut up into Garments for...

AS Spring advanced, the Plague came on amain. Houses were shut up, some empty, some with infected People in them under Guard, ne’er to be let out, save in perfect Health or to b...

DORCAS, who continued very ill all this Day, began thereafter to amend, and was able to take the sole Night-watch. But the Watchman would not let me go forth, though he would se...