Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-11-04
AN HOURS STRUGGLE WITH POISON

was spending some days, not many years ago,
in beautiful little county village and in family
that had more than common attraction to one who
loves domestic life we'll myself That little
circle had in it of real interest than have Of
ten developed in the same number of persons.
The father of the famly-almost too young to
feel yet that he entitled 10 that honorable ap-
peilation-was fine, frank-hearted, young mechan-
ic, with wide world of life bounding in his veins
energy that, when fully aroused, drove every
thing violently before him; and warmth of dispo-
si:ian that won him more friendship than it had
then given him the goods of this world.
His wife, to whom he had been married for four
years, was singularly beautiful. They had two
childrcn-the one a laughing, brown eyed and
brown-hairsd little fairy OF three years; her name
Eveecn. The second a growing, laughing,
blue eyed plump little beauty of less than year,
promising to have all the charms of the elder at
her age.
was sitting one afternoon in quiet little room,
W tn my feet upon two chairs, reading pleasant
little book, in state between sleep and awake-my
host away at his shop a hundred yards off, and my
pretty little hostess engaged in her household la
bors-when was thrown out of my Incidence by
scream that brought me to my feet like an electric
shock. 1t was wOmans voice, and had in it an
excess of agony that cannot be indicated in words;
SO loud that it rang over that quiet little village and
brought every one forth to ascertain the cause.
Isprang to the door that separated the sitting
room from the dining apartments, and saw the whole
at glance The young mother stood at the door
with her first born-our darling Eveleen-in her
arms dying. A brief and hurried word from the
told Inc the sad story. The little girl had
accompanied child up stairs, and while the atten
ton of the older child was for moment turned
away she seized bottle of corrosive sublimate in
alcohol, and had tax en- enough to have taken away
twenty such lvcs. The little thing had tottered
down s. airs. and the mother had met her at the
landing with the empty bottle in her hand, and the
poison o"zirg from her mouth, and the child all un-
conscious of the fearful Thing she had done. Was
1t any wonder what terrible shrek rang out over
tile quiet little village, and that already the occu
pants of every house near were rushing towards
The spot where the mother stood2
But few moments could possibly have elapsed
since the poison taken, and yet the effect was
already fearful After the first shrek of terror the
mother had quieted to calm despair for the mo-
men, and stood with the child in her arms, making
no effort for its relief; and indeed, it seemed hope
less, for already the subtle poison seemed dffused
through the frame; the brown eyes had lost their
lustre; the face was backened as in after death
and the teeth were tight set in a convulsve spasm
t'at evidently would not pass away. | examined
the little lost darling for moment, saw that it was
hopeless, and then turned away, unable to bear a
m"thers agony. The little door was already half
nled with villagers; and sobs, and means, and
lamentations over the fate of the dying child were
Heard in every direction, mingled with quick and
hurried questions as to the manner of its occur.
-.h1e, anu vain attempts al an answering, which
added an expressing confusion to the sadness of the
Scene.
The little play-fellow's uncle, who had been up
STAIRS with the child, had run instantly to call the
ia'her, ana but a few moments elapsed before he
sprang into the middle of the group He had been
told all, and asked no questions. I had time to re-
mark that his eye was very stern and that his lip
Was very firmly compressed. Others, too, remark.
ea IT; and knew afterwards that murmur ran
round the circle of how strange it was that he be-
tayed no feeling.
lie reached out his hands and took the child from
lis mother. Its eyes were now closed, and white