Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-11-07


let hun die; my ehlld!'
The nurse with her apron thrown over
ller, head was sobbing TO all appearance)
an the corner. A word Of sympathy to the
unhappy mother, and then Mary bent
down over the cradle and looked at the
poor babyi she felt ils little. hands; its clam
my limbs; she pressed the blue discovered
lips wlth.her own, and listened toiIs feeble
breathing.
'"What is the matter, nurse" with this
dear boy, and how long has he been ill!"
she inquired.
"Oh ma'am, nothlng's the matter only
= dwindhng away, ma'um, Poorer and poo
res, and Deler and paler he gets every day,
and now you see' ma'au, he il most gone
g '--the deot!"
Again Arabel shrieked wildly.
"flas the child taken any anodyne" said
Mary.
"Noi indeed. ma'am!" answered the
nurse.
because" continued Mary, "this looks
TO me like child suffering from the effects
Of Iaudanuu, or some Other powerful OPT
ale"
''sLGudqHum Opiaie I" exclaimed the
nurse pertly, "the mercy knows who should
give it 10 him! lhaVe not, l'm sure. ne
. yer do such dreadful things--notI. |. Mrs.
. Pettis always said, says She"
Mary lifted the child from the cradle, and
Notwithstanding the asseVerations of the
nurse, inquired how long since physician
had seen the babe. She was told that none
Z had been called in, es the nurse had said it
, would be Of no use, and only irighten the
little dear 10 death--she could do all that
q was necessary.
-"Let ph yscianbe summoned Instant
. ly,,' cried Mary 10 Beaumont, "yOur child
may yet be saved"
In few moments the doctor was there.
""rhis toy has been tsking audanum,"
said he, after looking at the babe and feel
ing its little pulse.
'"OL, ,-no, no, doctor, he has not." said
.Arabel.
"IIow should you know!" interrupted
Beaumont, fixing his eyes sternly upon lh.
culuabie mother. "Call the nurse;' for as
the doctor entered that parsonage had dis
appeared.
"Whlt have you been giving this child
ne asked, e5 she re-enleIed the room
~''NothIng at all, sir, but little cordial for
the collie poor thing"
"Ihe truth, woman, and at onee!" cried
tho doctor, 'Th.s is the effect Of stronger
ID op,ates than cordial; what is it!"
"Nothng cse, sir, upon my word!'
"Your tOord' Woman you are telling
me lai5ehood--think not to deceive me
You have been giving itlaudanum!"
The nurse lifted up her hands and rolled
Hphcr eyes in horror al the accusation anC
GloutIy eainlained her innocence.
The doctor seized her aims.
~"Now, madam, you wear pocket abou
you"
"Ye.e-es, air."
-"Empty it this moment"
"Not Tor you or any man iving!" sores
med The woman, turning very pale, an
STRIVING to free herself from the grusp {
the doctor.
"Ysu wont! Well, then I wiIl!"' anC
Notwithstanding her struggles phial Ia
beed "Laudanum," and another "EIixr,
were drawn'iorth.
The guilty woman al hrst persisted !
her innocence, but finding It vain, at leEgt
confessed that slie bad always been in III
'habi! 0: administering one or both as sll
pleased 10 the miserable inlanu that IL
child having disturbed her much the njgI
previous because it was sick iren teelhln
she had given him larger dose than 81
-iutendcd!
AT this confession the conscience slrlc
en- Arabe, with II thrilling shrek, taintC
and was borne from the chamber.
"Woman!' exclaimed Beaumont hoar
with passion, ashe shook the nurse by Il
arm, iii my child dies, your lie shall a
swer for il"
But the child did not die. Better pc
haps Rnnld il have been had it done so, /
s-ls,,, after long and dangerous fever A
Stsi' n,.., ngth recovered, she found h
eadluIpuuIshmc cnt for her follies'
-
beaumont is posscsstdof TOO much goc
ness of heart to treat the now rePe,'Ia
vile and mother otherwise than VIII. XVI
hess, but his affection and confidence {
scan never regain; loss iTeparable! II
husbanu canno t6.ge. the past! How Ct
he, when his eye rests upon his idiof %
n constant, living reploachlo 10 lhe wretch
'snotheN
lI.rrirotcn is e,tandrr n(Tnctionate hU