The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-11-05

aho no ?oIsoH oozing from ner mouth, aDd
the child all unconscious of the thing she
had done. Was it airy wonder that Terri.
ble shrek rang out over the quiet village
and that already the occupants of every
house near were rushing towards the spot
where the mother stood
But few moments could possibly have
elapsed since the poison was taken, and vet
the effect was already fearful After The
first shrek of terror, the mother had quiet
ed to calm despair for the moment, and
stood with the child in her arms, making no
effort for its relief; and, indeed, it seemed
hopeless, for already the subtle poison seem
ed diffused through the frame; the brown
eyes had lost their lustre, the face was black.
ened as IN after death, and the teeth were
tightly set in coGvulsive spasm that evil
IDENTIFY would not pass away, i examined
the little lost darling for moment, saw
that it was hopeless, and then turned away,
unable TO bear that mothers agony. The
little door was already halffilled with vii
layers, and sobs and means ard !s::s.eata
tions over the fate of the dying child were
heard in every direction, mingled with
quick and hurried questions as to the man
ner of its occurrence, and vain attempts at
answering, which added an expressing con-
fusion TO the sadness Of the scene.
The little play-fellow's uncle. who had
been up stairs with the child, had run in
stantly TO call the father, and but few mo
ments elapsed before he sprang into the
middle of the group. He had been told
all and asked no questions. l had time to
remark that his eye was very stern and
that his lip was firmly compressed. Others,
II .6 i.
that n murmur ran round the circle of how
strange il was that he betrayed no feeling.
he reached out his hands and took tue
child from its mother. Its eyes were now
closed, and white ooze coming from be-
tween the blackened lips. Was ever death
more assured | saw him open the eye
lids, and heard him give sigh Of relief
He told me afterwards that the eye was not
shrunken, and SO death had not begun. He
then attempted to open the mouth, but the
teeth were tight set, and they resisted his
efforts. But with a force that seemed al
most brutal, he wrenclied the teeth apart
and opened the mouth.
"Sbame I" cried one Of the bystanders.
The father did not heed it, but motioned
| to neighbor to take the child in his arms
| He did so.
bring me the egg basketl" he spoke
very sternly, almost without opening his
teeth. to the servant.
| "What do You want Of itT" "Wha,
can you do with it 2" aHe's crazy !" and
many such remarks followed, but the baske,
was there in moment.
He seized one of the eggs, broke it, in.
serted his fingers again between the teeth
and wrenched them open by force, though
they shut with so convnlsive motion rs
to tear The flesh from his fingers, and pour.
ed the albumen into the throat. There was
slight struggle, nothing more, and the
spectators were Mortified at the action.
Don't! the child is dying r. said one.
| Please don't hurt the little thing; !,
can't livew the mother found voice to say
laying her hand upon his arm.
Mary, be still ]" he answered sternly
while his teeth were relaxing from thei
clenching, and his face as hard as if ht
were entering battle; and don't any o
you meddle with me. Keep off"
The bystanders invo!untarily obeyed
with many harsh remarks upon bis cruelty
but he did not heed them, and went on
Another and another egg was broken, ant
still there was no sign Of life. Then the
whole body Of bystanders broke ont into
loud murmur, and cries Of The brute r.
Let the child die in peaceT "He is era
~, take the child away from himp p wer,
heard around him. %
| He desisted for moment from his ef
forts, and turned with a ferceness which
had before been altogether foreign to hi,
nature, but no one who saw HIM afterwards
forgot 1t. Fools !" he hissed, "mind you
own business, and leave me to mine. TAX,
her away, will youi Try itp' And h,
went on emptying egg after egg down th,
apparently lifeless throat.
i The mother could stand this no longer
her frst.born was being tortured to deatl
before her eyes. and she impIoringly fiunt
herself on her knees before her husband'
father, who had that moment arrived.
20, father, do stop him |" she gasped
he will obey you; do stop him. He i
torturing that poor, dying child"
i The grandfather started forward step .,
interfere, for he, TOO, thought the proceedin,
! an outrageous one but he stopped and said
., Mary, let him alone. The child win die !
he does not 60 on. Itcannot do more tha,
die il he does. would not cay word I,
him for the world. The child Is his; le
him use II at his pleasure"
| There was silence then. In a momen