Another had packets of dried herbs to which he gave terribly long names, and which he declared acted as an antidote to the poison.

Another had small leaflets on which directions were given for applying a certain ointment to the plague spots, which at once cured them as by magic.

The leaflets were given away, but the ointment had to be bought.

Those, however, who once read what the paper said, seldom went away without a box of the precious specific.
Joseph would have liked one himself, but had no money, and was further restrained by a sense of conviction that his father would say it was all nonsense and quackery.
Church bells were ringing, and many were tolling--tolling for the dead, and ringing the living into the churches, where special prayers were being offered and many excellent discourses preached, to which crowds of people listened with bated breath.

Joseph crept into one church on his way for a few minutes, but was too restless to listen long, and soon came forth again.
He was now near to Lad Lane, and hastening his steps lest he might be further delayed, came quickly upon the back premises of the carpenter's shop, where the sound of hammer and chisel and saw made quite a clamour in the quiet air.
"They are busy here at all events," muttered Joseph, as he pushed open the gate of the yard, and in truth they were busy within; but yet the sight that presented itself to his eyes was anything hut a cheerful one, for every man in the large number assembled there was at work upon a coffin.