The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-03-28
Membranous Group.
BY MARK TWAIN.

Well, to 90 back to where | was be-
fore l digrossed 10 explain to you how
that frightful and incurable disease,
membranous Group, was ravaging the
town and driving all mothers mad with
terror, called Mrs. McWilliams's atten-
ton to little Penelope, and said Oar
ling, wouldn't let that child be chewing
that pine stick. if were you"
"Precious, where is the harm in it ~
said she but at the same time preparing
to take away the stick-for women can.
not receive even the most palpably judi
cious suggestion without arguing it; that
is, married women.
Love, it is notorious that pine is the
least nutritious wood that a child can
eat"
My wifes hand paused, in the act Of
taking the stick, and returned itself to
her lap. She bridled perceptibly, and
said chubby, you know better than
that. You know you do. Doctors all
say that turpentine in pine wood is good
for weak back and the kidneys"
"Ah | was under misapprehension.
[ did not know that the chid's kidneys
and spine were affected, and that the fam
lily physician had recommended"
"Who said that the child's spine aud
kidneys were affected ?"
only love, you intimated it."
"The idea never intimated anything
OF the kind"
"Why, my dear, it hasn't been two
minutes since you said"
"Bother what l said don't care
what | did say There isn't any harm
in the childs chewing bit Of pine stick
if she wants to, and you know it perfectly
well. And she shall chew it, too SO
there now
"Say no more, my dear. l now see
the force Of your reasoning, and will go
and order two or three cords Of the best
shall want while -"
40, please 60 along to your office, and
let me have some peace. A body can
never make the simplest remark but you
must take it up and 60 on to arguing, and
arguing and arguing, till you don't know
what you are talking about, and you nev.
er do"
VERY well, it shall be as you say.
But there is want Of logic in your last
remark which"
However. she was gone with flourish
before | could finish, and had taken the
child with her. That night at dinner, she
confronted me with face as white as q
sheet.
20, Mortimer, there's another Little
George Gordon is taken"
"Membranous croup?"
"Membranous Group"
sis there any hope for him ?"
"None in the wide world y, what is
to become ofus?"
BY and by our nurse brought in our
Penelope to say goodnight and offer the
customary prayer at the mothers knee
In the midst of Nov [ lay me down
to Sleep" she gave slight cough. My
wife fell back like one stricken with
death. But, the next moment, she vas
up and running away with the activenoss
which terror inspires.
She commanded that the child's crib be
moved from the nursery to our bed
room and she went along to see the or
der executed. She took me with her, o.
course. We got matters arranged with
speed. A cot.bed was put up in my
wife's dressing room for the nurse. 8u
now Mrs. McWiliams said we were toe
far away from the other baby, aud what
if he were to have the symptoms in the
night 2-aud she blanched again, pool
thing.
We then restored the crib and tn,
nurse to the nursery, and put up bed
for ourselves in the room adjoining.
Presently. however, Mrs. McWiliami
said Suppose the baby should catch i
from Penelope - This thought struck I
new panic TO her heart, and the tribe o
us could not get the crib out of the nur
sery again fast enough to satisfy my wife
though she assisted in her own person
and well.nigh pulled the crib to pieces il
her frantic hurry
We moved down. stairs, but there wa
no place to stow the nurse, and Mrs Nc
Williams said tho nurses experienc,
would be an inestimable help. So we re
turned, bag and baggage, to our own bed
rooms once more, and felt great glad
ness, like storm-buffeted birds that hav,
found their nest again.
Mrs. McWilliams. sped to the Durser.
to see how things were going on there
She was back in moment with a new
dread. She said ; What can make tn
baby sleep so ?"
| said: "Why, my darling, baby al
,oays sleeps like craven image"
II know, | know but there's some
thing peculiar about his sleep now. II
seems to--he seems to breathe so reg,l
, larly o. this is dreadful !"
It "But, my dear, hc always breathe
regularly"
a "Oh, know it, but there's somethin
. dreadful about it now. His nurse is to
f young and inexperienced Maria sha
/ stay there with her. and be on hand
:. anything happens"
:. THAT is good idea but who wi
help youf ?"
8 "You can help me all want.
!. wouldn't allow anybody to do anythin
but myself, anyhow, at sach time o
this"
said would feel mean to lie abe
and sleep and leave her to watch and to
over our little patient all the wear
night. But she reconciled me to it. S
old Maria departed and took up her al
cient quarters in the nursery.
Penelope coughed twice in her sleep.
"Oh, why don't the doctor come
Mortimer, this room is too warm. Thi
room is certainly too warm. Turn on I'll
register-quick !"
shut it of, glancing at the thermon
eter at the same time, and wondering