Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Staff
Series 14: MEDICAL Grace M. Rood, Nurse, 1936-1962
Grace Margaret Rood (1897-1988)
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES
My First Night Trip

Maya Sudo Album: Hemlocks and stones covered by snow. 035b

TAGS: Grace M. Rood, nurses, Appalachian medical services, Darrell,medicine on horseback, travel at night, sickness in remote homes,

GRACE M. ROOD STORIES My First Night Trip

It was a bright. moonlit night, cold, the first of January. Brit Wilder, one of the maintenance workers on the place, knocked on my door. He had walked the three miles from his home on Little Laurel to get me to come and see his three – year – old girl. who was strangling to death with the croup. I didn’t know exactly what I could do, as I did not have any of the old remedy epecac [ipecac syrup],  but I couldn’t refuse him. He assured me that he would harness up Sunny Jim, and lead me on the way. He also suggested that I dress warmly, as it was very cold. I pulled on my heavy ski pants, wool socks in riding boots, slung my emergency bag over my shoulder, and was ready to start when Brit arrived with the horse.

We went up the road of peace and then crossed a mountain on a horse path. as I wrapped my scarf tighter around my neck,I looked up at the sky in the bright stars. I had a feeling of calm and nearness to God. I almost felt like Mary on horseback, with Joseph at her side. the ground was covered with snow. we were following a fence. When we heard a sudden noise; It was a hog moving to let us pass. I thought of a sheep or lamb.

fortunately, by the time we arrived at Brits home, his daughter’s heavy coughing had slackened. I showed them how to fix up a steamed tent, Waited while he stirred up the coals in the fireplace to get a kettle boiling, and then was on my way back.

The excitement was gone, the deed of mercy accomplished, and I was intent on getting back home to a warm bed.

But that wonderful feeling of being as Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem, has remained one of my happiest memories.

END

SEE
GRACE M. ROOD Staff
GRACE M. ROO Correspondence 1940
GRACE M. ROOD Correspondence 1962

GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Life of Amazing Grace
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES My Life at Pine Mountain Settlement School
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Come To The Mountains
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES My God My Jeep and I
GRACE m. ROOD STORIES Room For Six Strangers
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Now I’ve Seen It All
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Billy and I Go To Asheville For Thanksgiving
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Darrel
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES A Zipper In A Sleeve
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES  ‘Lum And Bertha And Little Joe
GRACE M, ROOD STORIES My First Night Trip
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Harlan County in 1955
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES We Take Teenie To Graduation
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Marie Pennington
GRACE M. ROOD STORIES Lonnie McQueen’s Memory of Miss Rood