Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-01-30

been avery quiet baby, and every time
was uneasy, . little liquor was administer.
ed to do me good did not want wine
but water. was naturally very thirsty
child, and everything that was put be-
tween my speechless lips increased my
thirst. My mothers milk was sweet the
panacea given me was sweet, and If nov
and then blessed with drop of goat or
cows milk it was warmed and sweetened
FIRST, TO make il as much like my moth
er's as possible. fused TO cry. No 9th
er way do we poor babies have of express
ing our feelings, and the chances are ton
to one that we will be misunderstood
To stop my crying was put to the breast;
this at such times, | would Indignantly
refuse, Then there would oe commo-
ton. Nurse, my mother would say,
what shall we do with him?' The
nurse vas stout, hearty, old woman,
who always made a practice Of tasting
whatever was provided for. her charge
Her sovereign remedy was liquor. 1t was
taken, and a spoonful sd ministered at a
time. At first | rebelled--[ strangled,
kicked and coughed The firm hand
held the spoon to my little tongue, and
down went its contents in spite of NE.
Little by little the dose was increased.
soon liked it. 1t was given me readily.
for after a few moments of wild gee,
fell into a drunken stupor, which gave my
attendants many opportunities of enjoy
ing themselves, as my sleep was long and
sound.
AT length ma,eia-a-pohs assailed me.
During my whole life, no one had ever
Thought of giving me spoonful of the
water had craved the cooling, cheering
and refreshing drop Of water! Now, l
TO longer cared for it. In my widest
frenzies I was accused of having the chol-
ic; down, as usual, went the fiery drink
until finally was literally burnt out. 1
was nothing but cinder within, and a
she'll without, Ny stomach WAS cooked
to a crisp, my intestihes were shriyelled;
my lungs no longer filed with pure air.
belched forth only the fiery fumes that
had consumed me- | died: l was good
for nothing. | hope whatever form my
dust is destined to take on earth, it will
not be watered, as, when Inhabited it,
with rlchohol.'
AS this speaker beascd there-arose n
wall Of sympathy, such as had at first ats
t'actcd me to the pandemoniac chamber;
as it subsidized another little figure had
taken the stand
MY legs hesad, brought me out Of
the world. My mother labored under
the strange delusion that her child was
born a Highland laddie Of American pa
rents in America. | was dressed, or left
undressed rather, in short plaid stockings,
reaching to the calf of my leg, and ele'
CANT kilt reaching just to the knee. Ny
limbs were moulded in cherubic forms,
and when exposed in the nursery, were
pretty. But the nursery was too narrow
Fl .ld in which too display my beauty
On bitter cold days was walked out over
J the icy streets, the keen wind chapping
my flesh and chilling my blood till my
knees looked like twin nutmeg graters
painted purple. l used to look at my
mothers long comfortable skirts and
thick leggins drawn up over warm
hose, and wondered if she could survive
a fashion such as wore if adopted by
herself. | became afflicted with inhama-
tory rheumatism, and unable to bear the
pain gave up the ghost.
The next that spoke was dreamy IA
ced little girl, who trembled as she rose
) and said Il am an opium eater. Ny
| death warrant was written ON the first
bottle of Godfrey's cordial brought intc
} my mothers house. A few drops at frs
} sufliced to hush my feeble cries. Thor
= Godlrey's cordial would not do. A few
= drops of mere laudanum were administer
: ed. Soon | would not 50 to sleep with
| out it. Then my nurse would give me
small opium pill in my hands. Ofcours'
, | was but little trouble. l was deer
sleeper, but my digestion became impair
t ed too much sleep weakened me, and
knew no natural slumber. My eyes be
. came like those of a sleeping walker, full
4 of dreams when wide awake-l lost my
r appetite my head grew full Of pain; my
| baby heart was always aching. closed
= my eyes one day forever on the home
where felt could be little loved wher
F. my low walls were never permitted to ap'
peal to those around me, but were hush
3 ed at once, where my blue eyes were
} scarcely ever permitted to look around il
I the world in which they had been open
= ed and where, instead Of proper care anC
food and exercise, the baleful pill and en-
5 ervating sleep were all that we're offered