Maddy Bates

Marble Springs 2.0 screenshot of Maddy Bates

What we know

1845 - 1895
Worked as a nurse in Boston during the Civil War. Became consumptive from overwork and exposure. Fled west in search of a cure. Didn't find one¹. Wanted to write and never did.

Footnotes

1. Item 1639.  Exercise. Females with slender means are for the most part destined to indoor occupations, and have but little time allotted them for taking the air, ad that litle time is generally sadly encroached upon by the ceremony of dressing to go out.
Enquire within upon Everything

Chests of Stone

by Alex Brown

Edna Harris always wondered aloud
whatever could Maddy see on her long days
staring up at the unfinished logs of
the White Owl's enclosed porch.
She can't even sit up to read,
murmured Susannah, scurrying by.

Mostly, Maddy watched the snow
as small flakes broke from the path
and mined the currents of her jerking breath,
bringing up the tailings of her body—
the small nuggets of blood¹ that waited
for Doc Nancy to clean.

All that winter, Maddy slept on the open porch,
hoping the cure of cold would transform
the crumbling crystal flakes of her lungs
into some smoothed marble sculpture.
Make me anything, she told God.
But make me whole.

Footnotes

1. Item 571. Consumption The disease may be complicated with various morbid conditions of the lungs and heart, which require appropriate treatment. To allay the cough, our soothing preparation Number 57 is an admirable remedy. Avoid cold, damp, excitement, and over exertion. Enquire within upon Everything

Connections

Portal

Sources

A drawing of a mortar and pestle.
Edna Harris
Hazel Wringle

Portal for secret connections