Once
Mattie's mother Lucille comes down with the fever, Mattie and Grandfather have to step up to the
plate and effectively take over the running of the household. As well as minding the store,
Mattie finds that she has to provide personal care for her mother, such as changing her linen
and helping her take a bath. Mattie's not used to this; it all seems rather strange that she
should now be acting like a mother to her own mother. But Mattie doesn't complain; she gets on
with the business of doing whatever is necessary to help Lucille during this difficult
time.
Dr. Kerr arrives, and after examining Lucille, tells Mattie and
Grandfather than she needs to be sent out of the city for the good of her health. With the fever
rapidly spreading like wildfire throughout Philadelphia this is no place for Lucille. Mattie's
not very pleased at hearing this; she wanted to stay in the city and help as best she could. But
Grandfather's much more enthusiastic; an old army veteran, he sees this as an opportunity for a
great adventure. Still flush with excitement at the prospect of doing something vaguely heroic
he heads off to procure a coach to get everyone out of town.
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