Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-10-07
MISCELLA A N Y.
Am Hours Struggle with Poison.

=
aro in q beautiful little country village, and in
a family that had more than common attractions
to one who loves domestic life as well as myself.
The little circle had in it more of real interest
than have often seen developed in the same
number of persons.
The father of the family-almost too young
TO feel that he was entitled to that honorable
appellstion-was fine, trank-hearted mechanic,
with wide world of bounding life in his veins,
an energy that when fully aroused, drove every
thing violently before him, and warmth of dis
position that won him more friendship than it
had then given him of the goods of this world.
His wife, to whom he had been married some
wears. was singularly beautiful They had two
.children-the one a laughing brown-eyed and
brown. haired little fairy of three years. Her
name was Eveleen. The second was Growing,
laughing, blue-eyed, plump little beauty of less
than wear, promising to have all the charms
of the older at her age.
was sitting one afternoon in quiet little
room with nv feet upon two chairs, reading a
pleasant little book, in state between sleep
and wake-my host away at his shop, hun
tlred wards of, and my pretty little hostess en-.
Gagged in her household duties when | was start
led from nv Incidence by scream that brought
me to my feet like an electric shock. 1t was a
woman's voice, and had in it an excess ofagony
that could not be indicated by words, so loud,
that it rang over that quiet little village, and
brought every one forth to ascertain the cause.
I sprang to the door that separated the sit
ting-room from the dining apartments, and saw
the whole at a glance. The young mother stood
at the door with her first born-our darling Ev-
eleen-in her arms dying A brief and hurried
word from the servant told me the sad story
The little girl had accompanied child uncle up
stairs, and while the attention of the older child
was for moment turned away, she seized q
bottle of corrosive sublimate in alcohol, and had
taken enough to take away twenty such lives.
The little thing had tottered down stairs, and
the mother had met her at the landing with the
bottle in her hand, and the poison oozng from
her mouth, and the child all unconscious of the
fearful thing she had done. Was it any wonder
that a terrible shrek rang out over the quiet
village, and that already the occupants Of every
house near were rushing TO the spot where the
mother stood.
But few moments could possibly have elaps-
ed since the poison was taken, and yet the effect
was already fearful. After the first shrek of
terror, the mother had quieted to q 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
seemed diffused through the frame the brown
ewes had lost their lustre, the face was blacken-
ed as in after death, and the teeth were tight
set in O convulsive spasn that evidently would
not pass away. examined the little lost darl-
ing for O moment, saw that it was hopeless, and
then turned away, unable to bear that mothers
agony. The little door was already half filled
with villagers, and sobs and moans and lamenta-
tions over the fate of the diving child were heard
in every direction, mingled with quick and hur-
ried questions, as to the manner OF its occur
renee, and vain attempts at answering, which
added an oppressive confusion to the sadness of
the scene.
The little play fellows uncle, who had been
ND stairs with the child, had run instantly to
call the father, and but few moments elapsed
before he sprang into the middle of the group.
lie had been told all and asked no questions
| had time to remark that his eye was very stern
and that his lips were firmly compressed. 9th
ers, too, remarked it, and | knew afterwards
that a murmur ran round of how strange that
he betrayed no feeling.
He reached out his hand and took the child
from its mother. Its eyes were now closed, and
a white ooze coming from between its blacken-
ed lips. Was ever death more assured2 saw
him open the eyeds, and heard him give assign
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 eff
forts. But with an effort that seemed almost
brutal he wrenched the teeth apart, and opened
the mouth.
''Shame," cried one Of the bystanders.
The father did not heed them but motioned
to neighbor to take the child in his arms. He
did so.
''Bring me the egg basket" he spoke very
sternly, almost without opening his teeth, to
the servant.
HWhat do you want of it2" "What can you
do with it?n "He's crazy" :" and many such re-
marks followed, but the basket was there in q
moment.
He seized one of the eggs, broke it, inserted
his fingers again between the teeth aud wrench
ed them open by force, though they shut with
so convulsive motion as to tear the flesh from
his fingers, and poured the albumen into the
throat. There was slight struggle nothing
more, and the spectators were horrihed at the
action.
"Don't; the child is dying ~ said one.
"Please don't hurt the little thing-it CAM
live ~ the mother found voice to say, laying hel
hand upon his arm,
"Mary, be still !" he answered sternly, while
his teeth were relaxing from their clenching ,and
his face was as hard as if he was entering bat
tie "and don't any ofyou meddle with me, KEEP
offln
IL.