
Philadelphia, PA., 1700's~
Mass panic has gripped our fair city: a man has been spotted and there's rumour that he might have yellow fever, which is highly lethal, not to mention, terrfiying in its swiftness and manifestations ...
We blame it on the hot and humid weather, which, in kind, brings mosquitoes. Tons of mosquitoes. And solme of these moquitoes may be the very culprit carrying this disease. There appears to be no let up or relief in sight from the hot rainless days that surely lie ahead ...
Ever since this man with the yellow face appeared, people have been falling ill with the symptoms of The Fever: high fever, vomiting up black, foul-smelling blood, consumption, ague, other troubling signs, and several have died. Once they get The Fever they are more'n likely to die: there is no real treatment or cure for this insidious, nasty illness!
Pepole are being advised to stay indoors as much as possible to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes (particularly in the evening, overnight, and early morning hours, when mosquitoes are most active) and to empty any pails or devices that might collect water, so it doesn't stand and attract these foul pests. Any mosquito that comes could be infected with the yellow fever virus and we cannot take any crazy chances ...
I know I am terrfied to think of my Edgar getting sick (he works at the shipyard); more so, I'm terrifed of my own children getting sick. We have alredy lost one neighbour to The Fever and every day we hear of more people vomiting black blood and burning up with fever.
I wish we could find this yellow-faced man who came to town and run him out!
He's caused us nothing but strife!
Pray no more people get The Fever! And pray we get blessed relief from this God-forsaken heat!
~To be continued.~