Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-11-23
PRESCOTT, WIS, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23, 1870

L began to think what l should DO. MY
window overlooked lane running past
the house. 1t was no great height from
the window to the ground. Should
let my baby carefully down, and then
risk leap myself?
II was forlorn hope, but there seemed
no other way. was just tying baby
into a large basket I had found in the
closet, when heard the chatter of horses
feet The rider. whoever he was, was
coming up the lane. Springing up, |
rushed to the window. 1t was Dan Viii
son, our 'ueighbor's' youngest son. lad
of thirteen. come probably on some mes
sage from his father He halted with
an astonished look as he saw my face.
Hush! hush!' I said fearfulIy; then
stretching out my hand 10 him: Dan,
Dan, ride home directly. Bring all the
help you can; Sairy is down stairs raVing
mad For the love of God, save my poor
baby and mel
Dan turned as pale as myself, | fancy ;
but he gave me nod, and gilloped off
like the wind. took poor Willie out Of
the basket, and sitting down with him.
kissed him again and again. and began
to ciy little. | WAS feeling weaker now,
than all along. Sometime | sat so, when
q sudden bang on the door made me
jump up with scream. 1t was Sairy
again; and she'd got something h avy
in her hand-the axe, perhaps-with
which she was pounding on the DOOR
1t was very strong door; doubt If she
could have done much harm with all her
pounding; but. in the dreadful state
was in, | expected nothing else.
stood there a minute. helpless and
maaning; and then, with sudden
darted into the closet where when |
went for th basket, had spied great
iron bar. ] seized this, and came out
with it. was in sort of a wild fury
now, against this fiend, who bad tormen
ted my poor child aud me so all day
But my mind was made up; the mo
ment that creatures head appeared,
would dash her brains out, If possible. |
thought, for was in kind of dis
pair. thought God had forsaken me;
and, in my madness, | accused Him.
and my husband and everybody else, of
cruelty toward me.
Suddenly, | heard the horses feet
again, aud ran to the window. There
was young Wilson agar and large
party with him. | told em where she
was, and to be very cautions; and then,
having no more power 10 say any more,
c,awIed to the bed. drew Willie to
ward me verv feebly, for began TO
feel rs water. Sairy was listening now
she was as quiet as death. But. all at
once. we heard the bursting open Of a
door below, then low voices, and the
treading of feet. And. with that, the
creature gave one terrible cry of The
evil spirits are coming for me- aud ran.
like hunted thing along the hall. The
cry went through and through me, like
dtzen knives. my nerves were SO un
strung; but struggled. and kept my
self quiet, for poor Willie's sake. Then
the voices rose again, mingled with cries
of that poor creature, and | sprang up.
stopping my ears. and holding down the
choking in my throat, till Willie, who,
bad been quiet lately, began to scream,
frightened oy the noise outside, and bali
distracted as was, soothing him quoted
me down q little.
AT las. he noises ceased, and there
came shaking at my door. 'Mrs. Ken
nedyr cried Mr.. Wilson's voice, 'open
the door,
ran and unbolted it, he sprsng in
followed by others
Mrs. Kennedy! for Gods sake!' he
began.
But heard no more. They told me
afterwards. that ran up to him. wrint-
ing my hands, and crying out that
[ was 'mad--mad! and that it WAS all
his doing;' and that then | went off in
to dreadful fit of cryin., that seemed
rs if it would have no end.
When came TO, was lying on the
bed, an they were chatting my hands
and face. began to crv again, though
in a feeble, exhausted way, and called
for my baby aud for John.
Baby is quite right, dear said Mrs.
Wilson. coming to the bed. 'and wants
mamma to get better, SO he can be nursed
againr
But won't stay here I whimpered
like any baby; 'don's leave me alone; l
won't be left alone another minute!'
mo poor child said old Mr.. " ilson,
coming toward me, and speaking in his
slow way; I'm ra'ally sorry this has
happened. / always kinder thought Sal
ry wasn't quite right in her head. 1t was
kinder foolish 10 take gal in, come 10
the door that way. But you ra'aliy
don't blame me, l hopep
Yes, do cried |, as sharply rs
could in my weakness. Il was young
and foolish-I felt all safe. And you
thought she wasn't rightl o. hate
up-and here | might have gone of
again, but for Mrs. Wilson, who quieted
me, and hustled off the poor man, who
went out, muttering that he alters did
think Mis- Kennedy ravther spunky
woman; but sa'aIly be didn't know she
had sech tarnatioa temperr-
1t was week before | was up again,
! and full two weeks before could beal
} to hear Sairy's name. When did heal
, of her again she'd been taken back to
, the lunatic asylum, where she belonged