She actually enjoyed hanging the clothes. She usually spent that time in deep prayer. Before Sally came, laundry day was always on Monday. Mama had done it that way, and Gloriana just naturally kept the schedule. However, she remembered when JT had been young that there were often extra washes of baby clothes, bedding, and diapers throughout the week. Babies just weren’t all that much for laundry schedules.

Once all of the laundry was finally hanging in neat rows, Gloriana made sure the fire was out and headed back inside. Sally was beginning to fuss. No doubt she was hungry. Before she went to see about the baby, however, Gloriana checked on Mr. Carson.

She went to his bedside and felt his head. It seemed a little cooler, but she couldn’t be sure. Her action, however, woke him. He opened his eyes, then frowned. He drew his hand up and began to rub at his right eye.

“I told you that you mustn’t rub your eyes,” Gloriana said. “You can damage them.”

He shook his head. “I think . . . it’s too late.” He raised his head and turned it from side to side. “I can’t see.”

When JT arrived home from school, Gloriana immediately sent him for the doctor. Within the hour, Dr. Moore was examining Mr. Carson while Gloriana nervously paced the living room with baby Sally in her arms. She didn’t know whether to send for Luke or just wait until the doctor rendered his verdict. She knew measles often caused blindness but also that it might only be temporary. She prayed fervently that this might be the case.

When the doctor came from the bedroom, Gloriana motioned JT to go sit with the old man. She wasn’t sure what the doctor might say, and she didn’t want the boy upset any more than he had to be.

“Just go and tell him about your day at school,” she told JT.

He nodded and hurried down the hall.

Gloriana went to the doctor. “Well?”

“The blindness is caused by the measles, as you probably already surmised,” the doctor replied.

“Is it permanent?”

He put something in his black bag and closed it. “There’s no way of telling. I’ve seen people recover from it, but others don’t. Only time will tell. You can wash the eyes in a boric acid solution. You can get the boric acid powder at the apothecary. Mix a quarter teaspoon to one pint of hot water, then put it in a sterile canning jar and store it in a dark place. After it cools, you can use it. Shake it well and then pour a small amount to flush the eyes. Be very gentle so as not to cause more harm. Just pat the eyes dry. Do not rub—that will only cause pain and possibly damage the eyes.”

“But there’s no way to tell if he’ll regain his vision?”