“one of the milder cases”

Set in the year 1918, Sterling North’s memoir about raising a raccoon brings up a newly-relevant topic, the major pandemic so frequently compared to our current covid-19 event, that is, the Spanish flu. In his “November” chapter North writes:

Spanish influenza, which had swept across Europe and the eastern states, hit Brailsford Junction late in October, killing more of our citizens than died in the war [World War I]. The schools were closed, and people scurried along the half-deserted streets wearing eerie-looking masks of white gauze. At least one person in four was dangerously ill, with twice that number less seriously affected. Sometimes the disease struck with swift fatality. One ancient couple on the northern edge of town struggled out to their well to get a pail of water. The old man died at the pump, and his wife collapsed beside him, the handle of the bucket still grasped in her stiffening fingers.

11-year-old Sterling catches the virus, although he says, “Mine was one of the milder cases.” The father takes Sterling out to the home of family who own a working farm where the boy is nursed and recovers. No mention of any precautions taken to prevent the family from catching the virus. Luckily, if any of them did, it must be that none got a case bad enough to describe. 

For several days I spent most of my time in bed, arising occasionally for tea and toast or a short walk with Rascal [the raccoon]. In the evening, however, I donned bathrobe and slippers to listen to Aunt Lillie reading to the family in the parlor. … Aunt Lillie sat in her rocker beside a small table where a kerosene lamp threw its pale radiance upon the pages of a farm magazine. We sprawled around her in comfort, listening to her gentle voice as she read an endless serial.

I seem to remember one of my grade school teachers reading to us from Rascal. I never saw the Disney movie. But I do remember thinking a raccoon pet would be ideal. Rascal sounds like a sweetie, but a raccoon probably would not work out as a pet these days, especially in town. 

source:

Rascal

Sterling North

illustrated by Joh Schoenherr

1963. E. P. Dutton, New York