1918 Lesson

 


I have not seen a comparison of the 1918 flu epidemic to the one we are experiencing now. That one was devastating, too. There are very few folks around who could relate stories from then. I heard one my father, Harvey Barr, told many times and will share it.

In their neighborhood of about ten square miles lived seven families. Harvey was not sick nor was Mrs. Daniels just down the road. Their families were. Each morning, after Harvey made his own family comfortable, he hooked up a buggy and off he went. First stop was at the Daniels because Mrs. Daniels gave him jars of soup for everyone. Then down the road to the Eccles, on to the Lloyds, over the hill to the Goudes, then on to the Mays family and finally the Emersons. At each place he left soup, brought in fresh water, wood for the stoves and emptied the slop; making them as comfortable as possible. Harvey was always very proud that no one had died on his watch. Which was against the average for most neighborhoods.

I'm sharing this for the lesson--yes, we need to practice distancing, but we also need to be aware that others might need our help. So take care, be safe and help where we can. And don't forget to pray.

Della Evans,

LaCrosse

 

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