The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-05-26

much to cat some nu,s--and told An
drew to rc, me somr--and while be was
looking ior them in the wood--his sheep
went asiray.'
So, said her mother, in a severe tone,
you were the cause Of the poor boys
disgrace ?
Come, come said Mr. Elnidgo--
don't scoId her she won't do so any
more
but papa-Andrew-- shall be 80
sorry Il you send him away
WELL we'll, darling, call him back to
supper, and tell him he may remain
Thank you, good papa, cried the
child, kissing him, and then jumping
off his knee, III 60 tell him
This little scene certainly surprised
me, for ! did not know so well as do
now, the utter and almost absurd incon-
sistency of human nature. Another
lesson which I learned that evening
was, the extreme difficulty, not 10 say
impossibiliiy, of speaking TO parents
about their childrcn's defects.
yenturcd, after little Annie had
gone TO bed, to observe to her father
how very lightly he had passed over
the grevious sin of which sho had been
guilty. ] said that though by no means
an advocate for treating children with
severity, thought the crime of lying
should never be passed over without
punishment and grave displeas ure. !
also said that ! feared they would find
it bad plan to allow little Annie to
despatch the servants on secret errands
Of her own. suppose was injudicious
in making these remarks, for they were
by no means well received by either of
my friends.
In day or two returned TO my
residence in the next town, and months
passed on, when late one evening n
servant galloped up to the door, and
handed me n note. Ii was from Mr..
Elnidge, and contained only these
words:
MY child is dying--comc and bring
physician Ordering my horse to be
saddled instantly, ! ran for my own
physician, and causing him 10 mount
the horse of Tia. servant who had brot'
the message, in few minutes we were
galloping at full speed towards the Falls
On arriving, we were shown into bed.
chamber, and there piteous sight
awaited us. Annie lay in her mother,
arms, her face livid, and her eyes start.
ing from her head she writhing IL
convuisive agony, and uitering now and
then piercing cries. Her mother, weep
ing bitterly, asked her questions, whicl
the child did not answer, and her father
kneeling before her, was almost rs pal,
as she, while his dark eyes were fxed
III HlollOHlcss agony,
The doctor entered, and without
speaking, took Annie in his arms, laid
her on the bed, and examined her close
ly. There was an awful pause, broker
at length by his saying;
This child has been poisoned !
A cry Of horror burst from every on,
prescnt--fJr the servants had collected
in the room--but Mr.. Elnidge thinking
only of his daughter, said--what is tC
be done ?
The doctor ordered an eme,ic, n nc
while he was preparing and administer
ing II, went into the kitchen 10 ques
tion the domcstics, who had been order
ed TO return thither Just then labor
er entered and said
IT'S all over he il dcadr
who is deadT ! exclaimed.
Little Andrew the shepherd boy
Was he poisoned 2
All were silent, until the laborer il
reply TO my eager questions, contesse,
that the boy, before lac died, had tol'
him that Mt Miss Annie's earnest reques
he had collected wild mushrooms in th
woods that one Of The servants ha,
cooked them, and that they had botI
ealen heartily Of them in secret. sen
for this servant, but she had disappear
cd, aud returned TO the unhappy child
room, told the doctor what ! ha,
learned, and he showed me quantit
of small portions Of mushrooms whicI
Annie had thrown up. At that momen
she was calm, and lay motionless on th
bed, but never shall forget the ngo
nized faces Of the father and mother a
they stood gazing on the dying form q
their only child.
The doctor beckoned me 10 the olhe
side Of the bed, aud said IN a whisper {:
The child las but quarter Of an hou
to live; try to remove her parents, 70
the last conyulsion will probably b
frighlful.'
Low as was The ynice ia which iheF
words were spoken, Mr.. and Mrs. III
nidgc heard them distinctly for il
some states Of excited feeling. the sens
ofhearing becomes strangely acute To-
father spoke not, bat fixed his despair
ing glance more firmly on his child
the mother threw herself on her, an.
kissing the cold eonsulsiye lips, with
passionate fcryor exclaimed -
"Ny child, my child, they shall no
take me from you
And 30 the last fearful moment ap
preached, ashered in as the doctor La,
predicted, BY fearful agouies. SPAR
my readers tie description u tie par
cut.' .yue gragafed a. IL Mas bv tb.