Poems (White)/A Scarlet Fever Case

by Jeannie Copes White

A SCARLET FEVER CASE

A little girl, a happy child,
Felt in a whirl; she went to bed;
A burning fever, fierce and wild,
Took hold of her and turned her head.
The doctor and the nurse soon came.
"She's plump and healthy, never mind;
All children must pass through the same,
She'll soon be up, as you will find;
A scarlet fever case, you know."

And then how she did fret and kick,
Which only made the fever grow,
And caused the blankets so to stick
That all of them she'd throw aside:
To keep her covered—it was not
An easy task, for she had tried
To jump from bed,—it was so hot.

A month they kept her tightly so.
The other children were all told
That near her room they must not go,—
Her illness from them to withhold.

Her father came three times a day,
With dimes and kisses and a smile,
To whisper "Courage!" and to say,
"I love my girlie all the while."
The mother would forever plump
The pillows up, and cool the brow.
The slightest move—to see her jump!
"What is the matter with you now?"

Five girls they had beside, you know,
But they were well as they could be,
So to the ill all love must flow
Until she should be well and free.
At last the child sat up in bed,
With pillows back of her so soft,
Well!—such a smile as father had;
The doctor nodded and he coughed;
The mother sang, the mother cooed,
As if a baby had just come;
She even seemed to love the food
When girlie's appetite begun.

One day while sitting up in bed,
A sister just next her in age,
While quite alone, slipped up and said,
"We've had a whole month's holiday.
But I missed you, it was no fun.
Tell me, when will you get out, pray?
They're mean to keep you from the sun.
Say! May has made your doll some clothes,
And fixed her up so nice and fine;
And Nell has made some little bows
To trim a robe for you in time

To sit up comfy in your chair.
And sister has a scrap-book, too,
With pictures that are bright and fair;
She said she'd fixed it all for you.
And I have saved for a long time
Fine colored glass and shells and sweets.
Oh! do get well; you're looking fine;
And then we'll give you all our treats.
Good-bye, I'll have to hurry out;
They must not see me, but you know
I had to see you, or I'd shout,
And that would make your fever grow."

The father came and lit the light;
Annette called him and whispered low;
He kissed her lips and held her tight,
And just as he began to go
Said, "Nurse, whenever you must leave
The room, be kind enough to close
The door. This message to them give,
That Anne is in a sweet repose."

And when this girl was safe and sure,
The father's face shone in the street;
His friends were glad for this great cure,—
'Twas such good news for them to greet.
One friend brought her a flax-haired doll
For taking all the doctor gave;
Another gave a pretty shawl.

One morning when father was late,
The sick one was led forth by him;
Such a sensation this did make,—
Their happiness, full to the brim.
To table gaily she was led.
"She'll have the first choice, don't you know,
We're glad she's back again," they said.
"Annette is queen in our tableau,
And she must lead in every game;
She has to have our father's hand."
Annette thought illness, just the same,
As journeying through Fairyland.

And so, my little ones, you see
That being ill has its bright side.
All hearts beat true to you; so be
Quite good when fever must abide.