Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-16
HISTORY OF A CHILD TWENTY-FoUR HOURS.
OLD.-WRIrrEs nj HIMSELF.

OLD,-WRIrTES III HIMSELF.
Any reader gifted with ordinary intelligence will easily un-
dersand at hrst sight, in what way this autobiography was
communicated 10 u.s. We will not, them according TO The
faulty custom Of protested WRITER'S embarrass him with use
less details Suice 10 say, that no one can question
the authenticity OF this narrative. We gathered from The
mouth of the person Of whom going speak and
have related with the scrupuous exacness some
skeptca minds will undoubtedly deny the existence OF the
precocious talents which rendered Bebe, hardly
hours old capable OF giving the painful recital oil the TRIALS
and suherngs which he endured this world but II they
will recall the truly wonderful phenomena which the mind OF
man oilen presents IN the midst OF the brilliant intelligence
precursor OF death, they will without difficulty recognise IN
this narrative Of those Examinations. We will
leave II Tor beDe himself to relate his emotions and sorrows
in his own simple and arless language.
MY hrs observation worthy Of remark, since my entrance
into the WORLD was at seeing myself transferred from the hands
OF man to the arms OF old woman words fall me to
press the disgust with which she inspired me- Her depor-
men was rude her eyes named her nose red at the
tremy, and her breath infected with the odo OF liquid
called brandy could discover what was, but the old
woman resolved that should not long remain in igno-
II was evident that this monster had designs upon
my e opposed TO her in vain all the energy OF man
born Tree and independent the struggle too unequal
ended by yielding As perceived the sinister pro-
ects of those who surrounded me- uttered cry that could
have been heard in the silence OF the night the other side
of the but far from soenng their hearts, they only
laughed at me- sob oh the brisk boy !" exclaimed the
fury this will fortiiy his brain, depend upon It,
And Immediately my poor head became the object oil her at
acks Taking swallow of brandy, and pouring into her
hand some drops OF this dreadful liquid, she began to put
upon my skull and to rub with all heRforce. How
describe the horrible torture endured The burning liquor,
penetrating 10 my very BRAIN caused the most cruel uf
erng struggled, cried groaned, hoping to soften the
hearts OF my enemies IL in vain had already lived
quarter OF hosr, and the mortal pains had endured
were not to soon One person only showed inte
rest and affection for which drew upon her persecution
nearly equal to mine. My poor mother she alone testified
sympathy in the unfortunate Bebe but she was, alas too
feeble to aid him by her generous efforts.
Seeing that the application of the brandy did
quick enough DEATH the old woman, who called nurse
and who meed rather the of executoner, thought Of
another OF ending my life In the middle of the
was large bucket filled with warm water into which she
plunged in order to drown but again my presence of
mind and my activity prevailed. Amazed at my courage and
thwared in her criminal design this woman this IL
forced to yield but she did satisfy the less her
internal malice. She began rub from head to foot,
treating like dead pig than living boy my body
was one sore, and suffering drew from agonzng cries
You not ignorant how the Egyptians treated their num-
mics in ancient times; is probable that from their ecoec
ton of this taken the punishment obliged endure
Placing upon her lap the wicked old took long
roll of linen and bound me up in it if were really de-
ceased Egyptian condemned to breathe only among the dead
Twenty times she turned me Never had experienced
such dizziness.
ered from this forced agaton but to be tossed turned and
returned IN SO rude manner was beyond my strength and
felt nearly exhausted.
did not doubt that they wished to kill me by some other
for they covered my head with horrible cap and
compased my neck with the evident intention Of srangng
me. am ignorant how escaped from this peril
knew only that in the first half hour of my existence
then enjoyed insans repose, during which reflected
my sad position.
in this world without single friend who could de-
lend me- had, it is true, high-sPined and courageous
SOUL but feeble and deenceess. Deprived of every thing,
exposed to the bitter malice of my prosecutors who had
conspired my DEATH What could do Whom could call
upon But let anticipate the facts which crowd them
selves sufficiently into my miserable existence am going to
ate
hour of midnight Casting eyes upon the clock which
adorned the mante pioce that two hours had elapsed
during painful suengs but events had accumulated
this space me the terrible which, had played
tragcal part had exhausted that felt want of
nourishment even the thought of food inspired me with
disgust
You easily imagine, them what have been my
indignation when saw the odous of whom have sol
otentcomplained prepai which surely meant
for she took with air of dsaste bottle the contents
of which she poured into teaspoon then, sezng
pectedy had hardly time open my mouth to call for help
when the vile drug already in my throat could not
cry fell backwards, and thus tasted the first bitterness that
my stomach condemned receive Exhausted with ia
tgue, sleep length closed my heavy eyes. wished to
Cape Would you believe it This wicked nurse, who but
before forced to open my mouth crafty her
ticc resisted this of nature At the moment when she
preparing take this pleasure she pushed my under
Jaw with such violence that thought it broken. The
pain experienced did not however, prevent my sleeping
little time, free from all chagrin but il only heavy
initiation Of nature and not sweet and refreshing sumber
Poes speaking of balmy Sleep love TO 1t 10 that
infancy but they have forgotten the bandages the swad
ding Clothes and the thousand other Of the first
days could give long Of all experienced, but
would detan long. New chagrins pains till then
heard Of, awaited when awoke. | was like criminal
put TORTURE who is allowed epose only be the
more cruelty hacked.
As a my wicked nurse occupied in examin
ing the she fell again upon her prey She took from
small spoonful of thick and inspd substance, which
heard indistincy called pap cruel. Beginning by putting
the spoon her gnobe mouth she then thrust almost down
my throat, and constrained swallow the
Less disagreeabe than the oil which had constituted my first
breakfast this second repast became huru by the
brutal in which il administered. Immediately
AFTER seized with violent COLES that caused much
suffering poor innocent that was who had done nothing
this punishment Had it not been for the pain
occasoned by my maady might have believed that life
continual hell, for was left quiet for several hours.
large piece of flannel enveoped my head and shoulders and
placed in my bed, where felt warmth suitable to
my constitution than the cold from which had suffered
much. taken up after long interval. The fire still
burned the hearth but the candle, which terminated in
long snuff sutmounted by large head like the dome Of St
Paul's, gave but a feeble and sombre light.
The seated herself the fire in large chair
Her respiration, which, while she slept escaped intervals
through her nostrs with noise in which there little ha
mony, than infected with the smell Of the drink
of which have spoken above Lying upon her knees pro-
flied by the opportunity to look around with the curiosity
that novelty always excites in naturally DESTROYS
Of knowing the manners and customs Of my equals The i'm
preston that drew from this inspection far from being
agreeable Labelled walls ppkns napkins, clothes buckets,
chairs and tables thrown in all appeared