Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-12-27

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pleasant conviction of baby's existence
which small circumstance he had quite for
gotten in the land Of dreams. The child
screamed, and then moaned, as il in pain,
and twisted frantically on Mrs. Cornwal's
lap, as she sat in the low rockng-chair by
the fire-the light from the burning logs
falling upon her pale and disturbed coun-
tenance. 'i 10" .
J. "What IS the natterl" exclaimed her
husband, spTingng to her side. 81.
"l haven't the least idea," was her de-
sparing reply, "I'd give most onythn' |
have in the world if Marthad only come
backm -.t ..ta -r sr... :. ..
"Well, Shouldn't care to see her jest
now," observed Timothy, after gazing up
on the child's pale features, "I'd ruther have
the baby out of this fix, first, Whatever it
IS. Aint there pothin' we car give its''
he continued, anxiously, "paregorlc, or any
thin of that sori!" ,.-r ...r
eyes," replied his wife, Frightening up,
"Martha often gives it little paregoric.-
Jest look on he third shelf of the cupboard
there, in.she little, fat bottle, with the
broken cork" mo
Timothy seized the vial, and cautiously
dropped the stated number of drops. Bsbv
reared and plunged frightfuly, hut down il
went; and then Mrs. Cornwall tried to trot
1t into silence.
1t was of no use, it's screams became
terrific; and Sally, who came rushing dawn
, rom her own dormitory, declared that The
child was dyig. "Miss Crimer's baby
went off jest so--it had fits--and she reck
oned that Martha Briggs had seen the
last OF her'n."
"Timothy," gasped his wife, with a
prophetic vision of the officers of Justice,
and gal!ows before her, "go for the doct.
or, do! Don't lose a mint"
A heavy autumnal rain was falling--a
soaking penetrating rain; but Timothy per-
formed a hasty toilet, and fastened to sad.
die the old white mare. 1t was pitch dark,
and he found himself sinking in mud and
mre--the rain beat down unmerciiully--
and even Timothy's equable temper gave
way He felt about cautious y, grasped the
fence, and after tearing his hands with cid
nails, he banged up directly against the
barn door,. The shock almost DESTROYED his
equilibrium; but, remembering that there
was dying baby in the house, and that
the baby didn't even belong to them,he made
extraordinary efforts, and succeeded, at last,
in getting hold Of the horse. The old lady
by no means approved OF having her slum-
bers thus disturbed, and gave her master
considerable trouble; but, once fairly on her
buck, he resolved to fly for his very Iife
He led her carefully around to the front
of the house, where he was met BY Sally,
who came to tell him that Mrs. Cornwall
was almost in hysterics--he hid given the
baby poison instead OF pareaSfic-and if it
got over one trouble,it weuld' certainly die'o.
the other.
Even Sally was excited, and poor Timo-
thy, half dead with terror, gaIIoped off to
the doctors which was two miles from home
He trembled with thousand undefued
terrors, and became SO weak from fright,
that he fairy slipped from the old uare's
back into the muddy road. Splashed from
head 10 foot, and completely chilled, the
poor man crawled up again, and urged his
steed forward Dripping and exhausted he
arrived, most pitabe looking object at
Doctor Camomile's door.
oelns dsturDed--qu te the contrary, for
patients were scare. at Hornetsv!le; and
! II was generally averred that he slept with
one eye open, to be ready for emergencies,
He received Mr. Cornwall with an appear
ance OF su2dueS delight; and pr pared TO
accompany him without delay. citizen.
"A sad case" he remarked, as he pick-
ed his saddle bag, 'Sbut medical skill often
works wonders" ....
Timothys teeth fairly chartered on his
homewarj route; and an unpleasant sensa.
ton IN his bones seemed to say that the
/ storm had taken firm grip of him, this
! time. ....s-
! As they approached the dwe ling, crowd
was visible around it, lanterns feshed in
all directions, ana flames We're pouring from
one Of the chimneys. The Hornetsyile
Engine Company" who seldom had an op.
portunity TO display their skill, were ont in
full force, ana iury dclugug the house
with water; the neighbors were all collect.
ed, Tor ii was whispered about that the
] Briggs baby had been poisoned and alto
gether,there never had been such an excite
ment in the place "wthln the memory OF the
oldest nhabitant,"
Timolhy dashed through the orc..a,I3. fol-
lowed by the doctor; aud. havi.."ee 3. lived
his own apartment, found it TO be Inc very
spot whence the fire had originated. The
accumulated scot in the chlmr ey, which
had now been in disuSe for long while
caught the flames lhas ascended from the
hearth, and bid fair, at first, to reduce the
house to ashes. But the rain and tle
engine together soou extinguished these;
although the company Continued to work
hard, as 1t 10th 10 stop the amusement; g.
the inmates were really in more danger
irom the element OF water than of fire.
Doctor Camomile regarded the babv at.
tentively Tor moment. or two; It looked
pale anc sex, but these were no evidences
OF poison; ana Timothy Cornwall and his
vile were Tar more ptiable objects. He
called for the vial from which Timothy had
taken The dose administered; and, after ex.
amning it carefully, pronounced il to be
neither poison nor paregoric. but per.
fectly harmless mixture tor seasoning mincs
Dles. which tho ~