s congregation. A solemnity was over
the whole valley, and the only sound anywhere seemed to be the tolling
of the bells in the churches.

The anthrax outbreak had seemed to the people of Mayfield one more, and
perhaps a final, proof that their hope of survival was beyond all
realization. Before, with severe rationing, it had seemed that they
would need a miracle to get them through the winter. Now, with the
brutally lessened supply of milk and breeding cattle, it seemed beyond
the power of any miracle.

Dr. Aylesworth's white mane behind the pulpit was like a symbol
testifying that they never need give up hope as long as any desire for
life was in them. In himself there seemed no doubt of their eventual
salvation, and in his sermon he pleaded with them to maintain their
strength and hope and faith.

In his prayer he asked, "Father, bless our cattle and our beasts of
burden that this illness that has stricken them may be healed. Bless us
that our hearts may not fail us in this time of trial, but teach us to
bear our burdens that we may give thanks unto Thee when the day of our
salvation doth come. Amen."

Chapter 12. _Decontamination_

By late November some drifts of snow on the flats were 3 feet deep. The
temperature dropped regularly to ten or more below zero at night and
seldom went above freezing in the daytime. The level of the log pile in
the woodyard dropped steadily in spite of the concentrated efforts of
nearly every available able-bodied man in the community to add to it.
Crews cut all night long by the light of gasoline lanterns. The fuel
ration had to be lowered to meet their rate of cutting.

The deep snow hampered Mayor Hilliard's plan to sled the logs downhill
without use of teams. Criticisms and grumblings at his decision to
sacrifice the horses grew swiftly.

There had been no more signs of anthrax, and some were saying the whole
program of vaccination and slaughter had been a stupid mistake. In spite
of the assurance of the veterinarians that it was the only thing that
could have been done, the grumbling went on like a rolling wave as the
severity of the winter increased.

The Council was finally forced to issue a conservation order requiring
families to double up, two to a house, on the theory that it would be
more efficient to heat one house than parts of two. Selection of family
pairings was optional. Close friends and relatives moved together
wherever possible. Where no selection