Fever 1793, Tressa [howl and other poems .txt] 📗

Fever 1793 introduces a young woman experiencing the epidemic of Yellow Fever in the late 1700’s. Mattie’s life changes from being considered a child to a woman making choices as to what is in the best interest for her future.

Mattie’s flee from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania exposes the severity of the story after her mother becomes afflicted with Yellow Fever and her best friend, Polly, dies. Mother and Eliza, the family’s cook at the coffee shop, force Mattie and her grandfather to leave the city to seek refuge in the country.

Upon their departure from the Philadelphia, Mattie and Grandfather find that people are less willing to help each other, afraid of the disease they may be carrying. Barred from entering the town because the wagon driver is carrying people from the city, Mattie and Grandfather are cast from the wagon. Mattie and Grandfather are left without shelter, food, or water. Mattie decides to find shelter beneath an acorn tree near a creek for the night. Grandfather becomes extremely sick, and Mattie is forced to travel further for food and help. She finds pears at a nearby farm, loads her apron, and is on her way back to Grandfather when she is stricken with the disabling disease.

Lost in the realms of fever and delirium, Mattie eventually recovers from Yellow Fever at a hospital under the care of French physicians. Once having the fever, Mattie is safe from contracting the disease again. She and Grandfather head back to the coffee shop astonished by the ransacked building and items stolen needed to continue business as anticipated. With an added dilemma, robbers enter the building at night through a window Mattie left open to let the heat of the coffeehouse out. Grandfather passes away leaving Mattie alone to endure the remnants of the fever.

Fever 1793 is a powerful realistic fiction story that brings meaning to the late 18th century and events that happened after the Revolutionary War. It brings significance to the outbreak of Yellow Fever in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Publication Date: 11-30-2010

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