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

WINS uneasy, llttle 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
f panacea given me was sweet, and If nov
and then blessed with drop of goat or
cows milk, it was warmed and sveetensd
hrst, to make il as much like my moth
: er's as possible, | used to cry. No 9th
er way do we poor babies have of express
ing our feelings, and the chances are ten
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 weuld ne 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 spoonful ad ministered at a
time. At first rebelled--I strangled,
kicked and coughed. The firm hand
held the spoon to my little tongue, and
down went its contents in spite of ME.
Little by little the dose was increased
| soon liked it. 1t was given me readily
for after few MON ents Of wild gee,
fell into drunken stupor, which gave my
attendants many opportunities of enjoy
ing themselves, as my sleep was long and
sound.
AT length mania-a.pOtt 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
no longer cared for it. In my widest
frenzies ! was accused of having the chol-
ic; down, as usual, went the fiery drink
until finally was literally burnt out.
was nothing but cinder within, and
she'll without. Ny stomach was cooked
to a crisp, my intestines were shriyelled
my lungs no longer filled with pure air,
belched forth only the fiery fumes that
had consumed me. died: | was good
for nothing. | hope whatever form my
dust is destined to take on earth il will
not be wstered, as, when | inhabited it,
with nlchohol.'
AS this speaker beascd there arose a
wall of sympathy, such as had at first atS
t'acted me to the pandemonac chamber;
as it subsidized another little figure had
taken the stand
MY legs, he said brought me out Of
the world. My mother labored under
the strange delusion that her child vas
born 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
a Fl cid in which too display my beauty
On bitter cold days was walked out over
the icy streets. the keen wind chapping
my flesh and chilling my blood till my
knees looked like twin nutmeg orators
painted purple. used to look at my
mothers long comfortable skirts and
thick leggins drawn up over warm
hose, and wondered if she could survive
fashion such as wore if adopted by
herself became afflicted with inhama-
tory Rheumatism, and unable 10 bear the
pain, gave up the ghost.
The next that spoke was dreamy fa-
ced little girl, who trembled as she rose
and said FL am an opium eater. Ny
death warrant was written on the first
bottle of Godfrey's cordial brought into
my mothers house, A few drops at first
sufliced to hush my feeble cries. Then
Godfrey's cordial would not do. A few
drops of mere lsudanum were administer.
ed. Soon would not go to sleep with.
, out it. Then my nurse would give me a
small opium pill in my hands. Ofcourse
| was but little trouble. | was deep
sleeper but my digestion became impair
ed too much sleep weakened me, and |
knew no natural slumber. Ny eyes be-
came like those Of sleeping walker, full
of dreams when wide awake-l lost my
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 when
my low walls were never permitted to ap-
peal to those around me, but were hush
ed al once, where my blue eyes were
scarcely ever permitted TO look around in
the world in which they had been open
ed, and where, instead of proper care and
food and exercise, the baleful pill and enS
II Al