francis forger franklin, came down with smallpox and died that same november. He wanted to vaccinate their children but his wife did not. So they waited. Maybe they hoped the epidemic would wear itself out. Or maybe they just thought they had a little bit more time. Franklin's words were also incredibly timely. His emotions, his regret, more familiar, more personal than any of us would like to admit. I long regretted bitterly, and still regret, that i had not given it to him by inoculation. This i mentiond for the sake of parents who omit that operation on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it.