Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-04-29
FIGHTING WITH POISON.

village, and in family that had more
then common attractions to one who
loves domestic life as we'll as4nyself -
The little circle had in it more Of real
interest than have often seen develop
ed in the same number Of persons.
The father Of the family--almost too
young TO feel that he was entitled to
that hohornble appellation- was 9 fine
frank hearted young mechanic, with q
wide world Of life bounding il hisyeins;
IA energy TINT hen fully aroused, drove
II 8. salsntly rs$fora him; and 4
warmth Of disposition that won him
more friendship than it had then given
him of the goods of this world.
His wife, to whom he had been mar
ried for four years, was singularly beau
tiful. They had two children the one
laughing, brown-eyed and brown
haired little fairy Of three years; her
romantic name was Blossom. The Sec
ond was a growing, laughing, blue-eyed,
plump little beauty Of less than G year,
promising to have all the charms of the
elder at her age.
was sitting one afternoon in a quiet
little room, with my feet on two chairs,
reading pleasant little book, in state
between sleep and awake--my host
away at bis shop, hundreds yards off,
and my pretty little hostess engaged in
her household labors- when / was
thrown out Of my Incidence by a scream
that brought me 10 my feet Ike an
electric shock. 1t was woman voice,
and had in il an excess Of agony that
cannot be indicated by words; so loud
that IL rang over that quiet little vii
lage, and brought every one forth 20 as
certain the cause.
sprang to the door that separated
the sitting room from the dining apart
ments, aud saw the whole at a glance
The young mother stood ut the door,
with her first born--our darling Bios
som, in her arms, dying A brief and
hurried word from the servant told the
sad story. The little girl had accom-
panied q child-uncle upstairs, and while
the attention o. the older child was for
moment turned away, she seized Il
bottle 81 corrosive sublimate in alcohol,
and had drank enough 10 have taken
away twenty such lives. The little thing
bad tottored down stairs, and the moth.
or bad met her az the landing with the
empty bottle in her hand, and tho poi
son oozing from her mouth the child
All unconscious Of the fearful thing she
fs.d done Was II aay ~.a...ie~ ti-s~t V
terrible shrieknng out over theqniet vii
lage, and that already the occupants Of
every honse near were rushing toward
the spot where the mother stood
But a few moments could possibly
have elapsed since the poison vas taken,
and yet the effect was already fearful.
After the FIRST Shrek Of terror, the
mother was quoted to a calm despair
for The moment, and stood with the
child in her arms, making no effort for
its relief, and indeed, il seemed hope
Lass. for already the subtle ;-..s=e.. =s.s-sii-
Cd diffused through the frame; the
brown eyes had lost their lustre; the
face was biackened as if after death;
and the teeth were tight sat in con-
yulsive spasm that evidently would not
pass away. examined the little lost
darling for moment, saw that ii was
hopeless, aud then turned away unable
TO bear n mothers agony. The little
door was already half filed with viii
layers; and sobs and means, and lamcn-
tatinns over the fate Of the dying child,
were heard in every direction, mingled
with quick and hurried questions as TO
the manner Of it's occurrence, and vain
attempts AZ answering, which added an
depressing confusion to the sadness Of
the scene.
The little playfellow's uncle, who had
been up-stairs with the child, had run
Instantly to call the father, and but a
few moments elapsed before he sprang
into The middle Of the group He had
been told all and asked no questions.
/ had time to remark that his eve was
very storm, and that has lips were very
firinly compressed. Others, too, 70.
marked ID; and know afterward, that
a murmur ran around the circle Of how
strange it was that he betrayed no feel
ing.
He reached out bis hands and t65k
the child from it, mother. It's eyes
were now closed aud white ooze com
Ing from between the blackened lips
Waseyer death more assured z saw
him bpen the eyelids, and give sigh
II relief. lie told me afterward that
tho eye was not snnken, aud so death
had not begun. He then attempted TO
open the mouth, but tic tes'Ill we're
tight set. aud they resisted his orls.
But with q force that seemed almost
brutal, he wrenched the teeth apart,
and opened the mouths.
ashaine r cried one Of thebystanders,
The father did not heed them, but mo.
toned to neighbor to take the child ind
bis arms. He did SO.
"Bring me the egg basket" he spokeI
very sternly, almost without opening|
his teeth, to the Hervant.
"What do you want Of it 2" "What
can you do with il? "He's crazy"
and many such remarks followed, but
the basket was there in moment.
He seized one Of the eggs, broke it,
inserted his fingers again between the
teeth, and wrenehed them openly force,
though they shut with so conclusive d