An awful woman ! She is the patron-saint of young physicians and the bosom-friend of old ones . In the mansions where she enters the inmates provide themselves black garments ; the coffin-maker follows her , and the bell tolls as she comes away from the threshold . Death himself has met her at so many a bedside that he puts forth his bony hand to greet Nurse Toothaker . She is an awful woman . And oh , is it conceivable that this handmaid of human infirmity and affliction -- so darkly stained , so thoroughly imbued with all that is saddest in the doom of mortals -- can ever again be bright and gladsome even though bathed in the sunshine of eternity ? By her long communion with woe has she not forfeited her inheritance of immortal joy ? Does any germ of bliss survive within her ? Hark ! an eager knocking st Nurse Toothaker 's door . She starts from her drowsy reverie , sets aside the empty tumbler and teaspoon , and lights a lamp at the dim embers of the fire . `` Rap , rap , rap ! '' again , and she hurries adown the staircase , wondering which of her friends can be at death 's door now , since there is such an earnest messenger at Nurse Toothaker 's . Again the peal resounds just as her hand is on the lock . `` Be quick , Nurse Toothaker ! '' cries a man on the doorstep . `` Old General Fane is taken with the gout in his stomach and has sent for you to watch by his death-bed . Make haste , for there is no time to lose . '' -- `` Fane ! Edward Fane !
And has he XXXXX for me at last ?
bathed cries enters forfeited imbued puts sent stained starts wondering