This was Joseph’s eager petition as he rushed homewards after a stroll in the direction of the town one evening early in October.  There had been rumours of an improvement in the health of the city for perhaps ten days now, notwithstanding the fearful mortality during the greater part of September.  Therefore were the weekly bills most eagerly looked for, and when it was ascertained that the mortality had diminished by two thousand (when, from the number of sick, it might well have risen by that same amount), it did indeed seem as though the worst were over; and great was the joy which Joseph’s news brought to those within the walls of that cottage home.

Yet Mary Harmer was wise and cautious in the answer she gave to the eager boy.

“Wait yet one week longer, Joseph; for we may not presume upon God’s goodness and mercy, and adventure ourselves without cause into danger.  The city has been fearfully ravaged of late.  The very air seems to have been poisoned and tainted, and there are streets and lanes which, they say, it is even now death to enter.  Therefore wait yet another week, and then we will consider what is safe to be done.  Right glad should I be for news of your father and mother; but we have been patient this long while, and we will be patient still.”

“Our good aunt is wise,” said Reuben, who looked wonderfully better for his stay in fresh country air, albeit still rather gaunt and pale.  “It is like that this good news itself may lead men to be somewhat reckless in their joy and confidence.  We will not move till we have another report.  Perchance our father may be able to let us know ere long of his welfare and that of the rest at home.”

All through the week that followed encouraging and cheering reports of the abatement of the plague were heard by those living on the outskirts of the stricken city; and when the next week’s bill showed a further enormous decrease in the death rate, Mary Harmer permitted Joseph to pay a visit home, his return being eagerly waited for in the cottage.  He came just as the early twilight was drawing in, and his face was bright and joyous.

“It is like another city,” he cried.  “I had not thought there could be so many left as I saw in the streets today.  And they went about shaking each other by the hand, and smiling, and even laughing aloud in their joy.  And if they saw a shut-up house, and none looking forth from the windows, some one would stand and shout aloud till those within looked out, and then he would tell them the good news that the plague was abating; and at that sound many poor creatures would fall a-weeping, and praise the Lord that He had left even a remnant.”

“Poor creatures!” said Mary Harmer with commiseration; “it has been a dismal year for thousands upon thousands!”