Matilda Cook, Little Mattie, is a 14 year old girl who lived through the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793. She lived above a Cook Coffeehouse, owned by her family. She lived with her mother, grandfather, cat, Silas, and her grandfather’s annoying, bad mouthed parrot, King George. Lucile, Matilda’s mother, hasn’t been the same since her husband died. She was a busybody and kept Matilda busy, cleaning and waitressing in the Coffeehouse. Matilda’s grandfather, Captain William Farnsworth Cook, was her mentor. He taught her many skills he learned in the army,such as swordplay, and he has a confidence in her that Lucille doesn’t seem to have. He also sneaks her sweets. Eliza, the official Cook Coffeehouse chef, was a slave, but fortunately, gained
…show more content…
Matilda’s mother is the next to fall ill. Many doctors come and go one resorted to bleeding her in an effort to cure the Fever. During this time, Lucille would not rest until Matilda was safely in the country. To please her, Matilda and her Grandfather set off for the country in a wagon with a farmer and his family. Unfortunately, when they get stopped by town guards, Grandfather and Matilda are mistaken for fever patients, and are kicked off the wagon and left at the roadside by the farmer. While trying to care for elderly grandfather, Matilda falls ill with the dreaded Yellow Fever. When she finally becomes conscious, she’s at Bush Hill, a hospital staffed by Doctor Deveze, along with many other French doctors who are opposed to bleeding their patients, but recommend rest and food. Once ridded of the Fever, Matilda and Grandfather return to the city where they are shocked to find out that the coffeehouse has been tossed by thieves. Matilda tries to provide food for the two, picking from what’s left of the garden. One night, robbers enter the coffeehouse through an opened window looking for the family’s lockbox. Grandfather tries to drive the looters out of the house, and got hurt in a quarrel with one of them. After the looters run off, Grandfather dies with Matilda close. After having her grandfather properly buried, Matilda wanders around the city of Philadelphia. She
Matilda’s mother is the next to fall ill. Many doctors come and go one resorted to bleeding her in an effort to cure the Fever. During this time, Lucille would not rest until Matilda was safely in the country. To please her, Matilda and her Grandfather set off for the country in a wagon with a farmer and his family. Unfortunately, when they get stopped by town guards, Grandfather and Matilda are mistaken for fever patients, and are kicked off the wagon and left at the roadside by the farmer. While trying to care for elderly grandfather, Matilda falls ill with the dreaded Yellow Fever. When she finally becomes conscious, she’s at Bush Hill, a hospital staffed by Doctor Deveze, along with many other French doctors who are opposed to bleeding their patients, but recommend rest and food. Once ridded of the Fever, Matilda and Grandfather return to the city where they are shocked to find out that the coffeehouse has been tossed by thieves. Matilda tries to provide food for the two, picking from what’s left of the garden. One night, robbers enter the coffeehouse through an opened window looking for the family’s lockbox. Grandfather tries to drive the looters out of the house, and got hurt in a quarrel with one of them. After the looters run off, Grandfather dies with Matilda close. After having her grandfather properly buried, Matilda wanders around the city of Philadelphia. She