School-Days in 1800 by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

THE rest of the winter passed quietly, and pleasantly also, in spite of the whooping-cough, which ran through all our neighbourhood and almost broke up the school. Among the chief sufferers was poor Elnathan Crum, who died just as the spring flowers were beginning to come out in the woods and fields. Elnathan was very fond of flowers, and had them about him just as long as any could be found; and I well remember how Miss Tempy surprised and rather shocked some of the neighbours by filling the dead boy's cold hands with violets and trailing arbutus. I believe they thought the action savoured of superstition.

Emily Hyde, Jenny's sister, also died this spring. I specially recollect the fact from hearing Rose say that she thought Emmy must be glad to go where there were no lessons and no sewing.