Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-05-14
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FIGHTING WITH POISON

L was spending some Gays, EOC many
years ago, in a beautiful little country
village, and in a family that had more
than common attractions to one who
loves domestic life as well as myself.
The little circle had in it more of real
interest than l 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 honorable appellation--was fine
frank hearted young mechanic, with a
wide world of life bounding in his veins ;
an energy that when fully aroused drove
everything violently before him; and a
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 singnlarly beau
tiful. They had two chidren-the one
laughing, browned-cyed and brown
haired alittle fairy of three years; hoI
romantic name was Blossom. The sec
ond was growing, laughing. blue-eyed
plump little beauty of less than a year
promising to have all the charms Of the
elder at her age.
l was sitting one afternoon in a. quie
little room, with my feet on two chairs,
reading pleasant little book, in a state
between sleep and awake-my host
away at his shop, hundred yards off,
and my pretty little hostess engaged in
her household labors-when was
thrown out of my Incidence by scream
that brought me to my feet like an
electric shock. 1t was woman's voice,
and had in it an excess of agony that
cannot be indicated by words; 50 loud
that it rang over that quiet little village
and brought every one forth to ascertain
the cause.
sprang to the door that separated
the sitting room from the dining apart
ments, and saw the whole at glance
The Young mother stood at the door
with her frst-born--our darling Bios
som, in her arms, dying A brief ant
hurried word from the servant told the
sad story. The little girl had accom-
panied child-uncle up stairs, and Will
the attention of the older child was fol
moment turned away, she siezed ;
bottle of corrosive sublmate in alcohol
and had drank enough to have take
away twenty such lives. The little thin
had tottcrcd down stairs, and the moth
err had met her at the landing with tn
empty bottle in her hand, and the poi
son oozing from her mouth-thc chill
all unconscious of the fearful thing sh
had done? Was it any wonder that
terrible shrek rang out over the quie
village, and that already the occupant
of every house near were rushing towar
the spot where the mother stood?
But few moments could possibl
have elapsed since the poison was taken
and yet the effect was already fearful
After the first shrek of terror, tn
mother was quoted to calm despai
for the moment, and stood with the chill
in her arms, making no effort for its re
lief, and indeed, it seemed hopeless, fc
already the subtle poison seemed dlffuse
through the frame the brown eyes ha
lost their lustre; the face was blackenc
as if after death and the teeth wer
tight set in convulsive spasm that ev
IDENTIFY would not pass away. ! examine
the little lost darling for a moment, sa
that it was hopeless, and then turne
away unable to bear mothers agony
The little door was already half filled wit
villagers, and sobs and means, and la
mentations over the fate of the dyin
child, were heard in every direction
mingled with quick and hurried question
as to the manner of its occurrence, an
vain attempts at answering. which adde
an expressing confusion to the sadness
the scene.
The little playfellow's uncle, who ha
been upstairs with the child, had ru
instantly to call the father, and but
few moments elapsed before he spran
into the middle Of the group. He ha
been told all and asked no question
!, had time to remark that his eye WI
e very stern, and that his lips were vel
firmly compressed. Others, too, remarl
ed IL; and / knew afterward, that
murmur ran around the circle OF no
strange it was that be betrayed no fee
. ing.
He reached out his hands and tor
the child from its mother. Its eg