"My friend.--Welcome to the Carpathians. I am anxiously expecting you. Sleep well tonight. At three tomorrow the diligence will start for Bukovina; a place on it is kept for you. At the Borgo Pass my carriage will await you and will bring you to me. I trust that your journey from London has been a happy one, and that you will enjoy your stay in my beautiful land.--Your friend, Dracula."
4 May--I found that my landlord had got a letter from the Count, directing him to secure the best place on the coach for me; but on making inquiries as to details he seemed somewhat reticent, and pretended that he could not understand my German.
This could not be true, because up to then he had understood it perfectly; at least, he answered my questions exactly as if he did.
He and his wife, the old lady who had received me, looked at each other in a frightened sort of way. He mumbled out that the money had been sent in a letter, and that was all he knew. When I asked him if he knew Count Dracula, and could tell me anything of his castle, both he and his wife crossed themselves, and, saying that they knew nothing at all, simply refused to speak further. It was so near the time of starting that I had no time to ask anyone else, for it was all very mysterious and not by any means comforting.
Just before I was leaving, the old lady came up to my room and said in a hysterical way: "Must you go? Oh! Young Herr, must you go?" She was in such an excited state that she seemed to have lost her grip of what German she knew, and mixed it all up with some other language which I did not know at all. I was just able to follow her by asking many questions. When I told her that I must go at once, and that I was engaged on important business, she asked again:
"Do you know what day it is?" I answered that it was the fourth of May. She shook her head as she said again:
"Oh, yes! I know that! I know that, but do you know what day it is?"
On my saying that I did not understand, she went on:
"It is the eve of St. George's Day. Do you not know that to-night, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?" She was in such evident distress that I tried to comfort her, but without effect. Finally, she went down on her knees and implored me not to go; at least to wait a day or two before starting.
It was all very ridiculous but I did not feel comfortable. However, there was business to be done, and I could allow nothing to interfere with it.
I tried to raise her up, and said, as gravely as I could, that I thanked her, but my duty was imperative, and that I must go.
She then rose and dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck offered it to me.
I did not know what to do, for, as an English Churchman, I have been taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous, and yet it seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such a state of mind.
She saw, I suppose, the doubt in my face, for she put the rosary round my neck and said, "For your mother's sake," and went out of the room.
I am writing up this part of the diary whilst I am waiting for the coach, which is, of course, late; and the crucifix is still round my neck.
Whether it is the old lady's fear, or the many ghostly traditions of this place, or the crucifix itself, I do not know, but I am not feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual.
~Dracula, Bram Stoker, Chapter 1
So cute!
I was over at my parents today, and one of their cats had just had kittens. This one kitten was solid black and crawled out from my parents closet, where it was sleeping, wondered by itself into the living room, and then preceeded to crawl up my leg. Just as I was starting to pet it, thinking, “Huh, how cute!” It bit me.
Stupid kitten.
Are you joking?
I can’t believe that kitten bit you. I am so sorry.
They have something against you. No wonder you don’t like them.
The story started cute and became a tragedy in the end.
The thing is barely old enough to walk, its so tiny. Not to mention brave to leave the safety of its litter, only to make such a harrowing journey just to BITE me, right on my thumb. I know, I don’t get it either. Have to admit, though…It is pretty funny.
Haha
You have to keep an eye on this daredevil.
So tiny and already brave and adventurous.
Very funny. You always have such a stories to tell.
I got cut on some can of paint and got scared i would get tetanus. Read the symptoms and had all of them in the next minute.
Uh oh, I bet! lol.
Might need to go get a tetanus shot though, just in case…That is if you haven’t had one in the last ten years or so.
I never had a tetanus shot, that’s why I got scared so much. But it was very superficial wound and I washed it with soap and water. Put some alcohol on it and fast healing powder for skin injuries.And aloe vera cream.
I should go and take a tetanus shot, considering my job. “knock on wood” looks I’ll be fine.
Sounds like you took care of the wound good enough. However, just know…The shot is a cheap one, and it is one everyone should have at least every ten years just to cover your bases. It couldn’t hurt, right, just to be on the safe side.
It’s not about money. I don’t like pain and I have pathological fear of injection. I start to sweat and my legs move without my control toward the exit. “laughs”
I know, i know. I could be in big trouble if something goes wrong. Prevention is golden.
Especially if you get lockjaw…There is no going back from that, and it can be a result of tetanus
Hours, weeks and even years of pain can be avoided via a needle prick whose pain lasts seconds. I don’t know about you, but it seems like a balanced trade off to me. *shrugs* But yes, as someone with both friends and family members who have a fear of needles, I understand it is easier said than done. However if it were me, and being as paranoid as I am, I think I would suck it up and get the shot. Better to be safe, and lockjaw free, than sorry. 
You are 100% right. no question about it. Until two days ago I was so careful and always prepared, like wearing work gloves, not touching anything slightly suspicions. I am very careful when I do things, but I was tired and the can slipped from my hand. I didn’t want for the paint to drop on the carpet and with bare hand I stopped the fall. There was a piece of paper with paint on it so was thicker and I cut myself on it. well, I wasn’t happy.
No I don’t want to get lockjaw. I will go to the clinic and ask for the shot. You know, I am paranoid too. I can’t stop thinking what can go wrong.