The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-06-19
SfIfrtiUus.
E. From the Sunday Times.
HALF AN HOUR OF AGONY.
BY 4 MOTHER.

h The perusal, in last Sundays Times,
of "My Own Funeral" has 50 vividly
recalled a scene of terror in my own
life, that cannot refrain from giving it
publicity. It may serve to point a
moral" if not ''adorn tale," and so pre-
vent an accident, perhaps, not likely to
terminate so satisfactorily.as the one |
am about to relate.
1 forget what l was doing up stairs
in nay own tiny household; but nv lit
tie Eddy--a smart little fellow of about
three years ofage-was my companion.
| had left the servant girl below, in the
kitchen. Breakfast was over, and she
had obtained my permission to SO out
for the day, as my husband would not
be home till late in the evening, and it
was easy enough to get both dinner and
tea for Eddy and myself. N
| had assembled to the third story in
a fit, | suppose, of industry, to dust
around the rooms, peep into closets and
bureaux, and pass away the time in q
manner seemingly very creditable to
myself as a careful housewife. Eddy
was toddling about the floor, delighted
with an opportunity to do as he pleased
and taking every advantage of it by dis
placing, with a chuckle, everything
arranged, without tho ability in his lit
tie head, or body to put them right
again. r.. ~ ...... ..s
In this way got into small clothes
closet, but little moro than large enough
to contain my person. l was busily
occupied in examining the garments il
contained, with a view to repairing some
and cutting up others for the rag-bag,
when the thought occurred to me that
my boy was uncommonly quiet Good
ness gracious p [ exclaimed to myself,
"should he have fallen out of the win
dow, and dashed lis brains out on the
pavement beneath y | listened. -
There was not a sound. l was actually
afraid to look, lest l should see him
not. l did muster courage at last, and
peeped out. There he sat, on the floor,
playing with the key Of the closet, and
so absorbed in the contemplation of the
to him, wonderful mechanism of the in.
strumcnt, that he had lost all conscious
ness of every thing else.
In my joy Irushed out, clasped him
in my arms, and kissed him full twenty
times; and taking the key from his
hands, (for l preferred to hear him bus
Ting about the room, because it destroy
ed the sense of loneliness, aud made mt
comfortably aware ofhis presence, pu
it into the lock upon the outside of the
closet door. This done, | returned tt
my unfinished work in the closet. AT
ter moment or SO, thought it begar
to grow strangely dark. The next,
heard the click Of the key turned in the
lock /; and then a loud cry of exuitatior
from little Eddy, told the whole story
The little rogue had actually locked
me up in the closet! He was an inge,
MUS child, was fond Of every thing tha
seemed beset with difficulty, and had {
spirit Of perseverance that induced hin
to labor at a thing lie once attempted
until, it was accomplished, unless it was
too much fer his infant strength. Thus
a little vexed at my taking the key from
him while he was studying its nature
he had cautiously crept Up to the close
door, to play again with the curious in
strument. In reaching up, he hac
gradually closed the door, and the mex
moment had, no doubt thoughtlessly
and unintentionally, turned the key.
But, horrible thought could he turl
it back again? recollected now, very
clearly, that the door locked with ;
tspring, and almost with the slightes
touch of tho key; but it requireda a goo,
hard push at the door, and a suddo'
jerk, only familiar to the expert to un
lock. TO add to my distress of mind
my face was towards the wall, and
had scarcely room enough -safl
around. What Eas 70 he
Oh .ApK, m -: gsa n
Il / : ! J