Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-05-01


But u few moments could pOss
bly, have elapsed since. the poiso
was taken, and yet the effect wa
already fearful. After the fir
shrek of terror, the mother ha
quieted to a calm despair for til
moment, aud stood with the chill
in her arms, making no effort fl
its relief, and indeed, it SCENE
hopeless, for already the subtle po
son seemed dittnsed through til
frame !; the brown eyes had los
their luster; the face was blackeu
ed as if after death. and the, teetl
were tight set in q cOnvulsiv
spasm that evidently would no
pass away. l examined the littl,
lost darling for a moment, saw tina
it was hopeless, and then turnet
away unable to bear a mothers ag
Ony. The little door was alread,
half.filled with villagers and sobs
and means, and lamentations owe
the fate of the dying child, wer,
heard in every direction, mingled
with quick and hurried questions
az to the manner of its occurrence
and vain attempts at answering
which added an expressing confus
ion to the sadness of the scene.
The little playfellow's uncle, who
had been upstairs with the child,
had run instantly to call the father,
and but few moments elapsed be-
fore he sprang into the middle of
the group. He had been told all
and asked no questions. I had
time to remark that his eye was
very stern, and that his lips were
very firmly compressed. Other,
too, remarked it ; and | knew alters
ward, that murmur ran around
the circle of how strange it was
that he betrayed no feeling.
He reached out his hands and
took the child from its mother.
Its eyes were now closed, and a
white Ooze coming from between
the blackened lips. Was ever
death more assured l saw him
open the eyelids, and give a sigh of
relief. He told me afterward that
the eye was not sunken, and so
death had not begun, He then at
tempted to open the mouth, but
the teeth were set tight, and they
resisted his efforts. But with
force that seemed almost brutal he
wrenched the teeth apart, and
opened the mouth. ,.
"Shame " cried one of the by
standers. The father did not heed
them, but motioned to a nei ghbor
to take the child in his arms. He
did so. ....
"Bring me the egg,basket," he
spoke very sternly, almost without
opening his teeth, to the servant.
"What do you want of it Z"
'What can you do with it y she s
,razy," and many such remarks fol.
owed, but the basket was there in a
moment.
He seized one Of the eggs, broke
t, inserted his fingers again between
he teeth, and wrenched them open
~ force, though they shut with SO
motion as to tear the
lesh from his fingers, and poured
lie albumen into the throat. There
vas slight struggle nothing more,
nd the spectators were Mortified at
he action. .u- Us.-..-. q.
"Don't, the child is DYING" said
ne. H'
"Please don't hurt the little thing
it can't live y, the mother found
oice to say, laying her hand upon
lis arm. ..l tHr G |
"Mary, be STILL" he answered
ternly, while his teeth were unre.
.xing from their clenching, and his
ace as hard as if he were entering a
attic, and don't any of you med
lie with me, keep offw II
The bystanders involuntarily ,
beyed, with many harsh remarks
pom his cruelty, but he did not heed
lem and went On. Another and !
lother egg was broken, and still ,
lere was no sign of life. Then the ,
hole body of bystanders broke out
to a loud murmur, and cries of |
The brute ~ "Let the child die in {
ce" "he is crazy-take the ,
lid away from himw were heard
'Ound him. E(
He deSisted for a moment from
8 efforts, and turned with fierce 1
.ss which had before been foreign