A True Hero: A Story of the Days of William PennKingston, William Henry Giles
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A True Hero: A Story of the Days of William Penn
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Historical fiction; Quakers -- Fiction
The news, however, soon spread, and, alas! so did the disease. Before
the next day closed in, the young girl had breathed her last, and her
body was committed to the sea. By that time signs of the fearful
disorder had appeared on four other persons. The governor, Pearson, and
others went about the ship, urging the passengers to air and fumigate
their cabins, beseeching them also not to lose courage, and fearlessly
visiting those who were already attacked. The sun rose, and ere it sunk
again into the ocean, death had claimed two other victims. All this
time no sign of alarm was perceptible on the countenance of the
governor. He set a noble example to his companions, as, indeed, did his
friend Pearson. Perseveringly they went about at all hours of the night
and day, attending to the sick, speaking words of comfort to them, and
pointing to a Saviour who died to save them; and urging them to put
their trust in Him, so that they might not fear, even should they be
summoned from the world. It was a time to try all. Some who had
appeared weak and nervous before, now exhibited courage and confidence
in God's protecting mercy; while others, who had seemed bold and
fearless, trembled lest they should be overtaken by the fell disease.
Young and old, however, were attacked alike. Day after day one of their
number was summoned away, and before the shores of America appeared in
sight, thirty-one had fallen victims to the disease. With the change of
climate its virulence appeared to cease, and when the _Welcome_ sailed
up the Delaware, all were convalescent who had escaped its ravages.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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