The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-06-27

frightened. She was at heart a good
woman and loved her husband and
children. She would have been a
tender wife and mother if the demon
of horse. cleaning had not taken pos,
session of her. w.. .-..y.. ..rs. ed,
Bridget was sent at aonce for the
Doctor, and Susan was taken on her
mothers lap, and alternately scolded
and petted. . .-....- ...l......
What possessed you to touch it !
There, don't cry, the doctor will
give you something to make you bet
ter. Why did you touch it?'
Il was so thirsty thought it was
vinegar, and like vinegar very
much ..... -...sa .-
The child had seen Bridget use
vinegar to clean the copper kettle,
and thought the cup contained some
of that acid. .......
But l told you vinegar was not fit
to drink. There, there, do not cry.
Twas so-thirsty, and-Bridget
wouldn't give me-a drink
Mr.. Cleanwell went home to sad
household. Poor little Susan lay in
bed, with her mother attending her.
The doctor had come and gone,
leaving directions for the treatment
of the child. Her mouth was badly
burned inside, as well as her chin
and hands, where the solution had
touched them. The physician could
not tell her how far the internal inju-
ny extended, but Susan kept moan
ing ".
90, it burns, it burns y
The room where Susan lay pre-
scented a forlorn appearance. 1t was
Mr.. and Mrs. Cleanwell's bedroom.
Mrs. Cleanwell herself was vigorous
ly scrubbing the paintwork when the
accident happened to Susan. The
pail of suds and the brush lay on the
floor, which was damp in several
places. The bedstead stood in the
middle of the room the bureau was
moved out from its place. In fact
everything was out ofits own place,
and took up the place of something
else. Poor Mr.. Cleanwen was al
most overcome. Nothing but the
suffering and danger of the little girl
prevented him from expressing his
feelings in language unbecoming a
husband and father. He bent over
Susan, calling her pet names, and
begging her to tell him what hurt
her. She could hardly answer him,
and in despair he went out to seek
further advice.
The little Cleanwells were IN a
state of CONSERVATION below, where
Bridget was meekly giving them
their supper On coming from
school they were informed that their
little sister had poisoned herself with
potash. They told their compan-
ions in the street, and the report
spread through the neighborhood'
Two or three neighbors, acquaint
ances of Mrs. Cleanwell, came in to
inquire and condole. One of them.
Mrs. Petit, kindly put away the
cleaning utensils and pushed the fur
niture into proper places. She offer
ed to help in any way, but there was
nothing in particular for her to do
SO, after some kind advice to Bridge
and the children, she went home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cleanwell sat up al
night doing what the doctors ad
vised the father full of smetherec
indignation-the mother repentant
and longing to cry out her sorrow
and receive Der husbands forgive
ness but both waiting to see what
the end might be.
In the morning Mrs. Petit sent tc
inquire. The answer was :
I'VE can see no change
Little Susan lay quiet, no Longer
able to speak, and little hope was
entertained of her recovery.
Mrs. Cleanwell had leisure to weigh
in the balance the relative value o
house cleaning and health during the
long, sad days that followed. Their
her sincere repentance, and deter
mination to act differently in the fu
ture, were rewarded by the recovery
of little Susan.
There were other troubles to con
tend with, but they seemed light IL
comparison with the great fear thai
had overshadowed them. Mrs
Cleanwell had an attack of rhenma
tism, and the little Cleanwells were
afflicted with heavy colds.
'What heartless wife ! have
BEEN Mrs. Cleanwell said one nigh
when her husband was suffering IRON
the effects of her obstinacy. But
hope it is all over. If Susan haC
died, should have felt that | muir
dered her. Your illness, too-tha
is on my conscience. When shall
see the end of my folly
Don't grieve about the past.
can bear this, since Susan, my little
pet, is spared. But must tell yo'
Mrs. Pettit's plan. l believe / ex
pressed myself pretty freely to Mr.
Petit on this subject of house clean
ing. was SO angry, so indignant
l was obliged to open my heart t.
some one. He told me that he ney
er knows anything about cleaning
though the house is always in order
I asked him how Mrs. Petit man
aged. He promised to ask, and dit
so. This is her method: She hire
woman, and only has one room up
set at time. She begins after Nh
Petit goes to business. She neve
does any cleaning herself but sh
overlooks the work, and puts th'
drawers and closets in order. TIL
room is in perfect order again betor'
Mr.. Petit returns in the afternoon
The next morning another room i
attacked, and so on until the work i
done.' ....
/ Excellent! in future Mrs. Petit
plan shall be my plan
And it was. Mrs. Cleanwell KEEP
her house as neat as ever, but in
more reasonable way, She Learned
that it was not necessary to risk tn
health of the household in order T.
/ do the half-y early cleaning. When
ever she inclined to return to oil
ways, she thought Of little Susan ly
ing white and speechl ess, poisone'
through her neglect and peryerse
ness.
L