The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-22
MARK TWAIN.
He Tells Of n Case of Group ein the
NC Williams Family.

He Tells Of n Case of Group I'm the
NC Williams Family.
Well, to go back to where l was be-
fore depressed to explain to you how
that frightful and incurable disease,
membranous Group, was ravaging the
town anG driving all mothers mad with
terror, called Mrs. Nc Williams atten.
ton to little Penelope, and said: "Dar.
ling, l wouldn't let that child be chewing
that pire stick, if I we're you.''
''Precious where is the harm in it!'
said she, but at the same time prepa.-
ing to take away the stick-for women
cannot receive even the most palpably ju-
diclous suggestion without arguing it;
that is, married women.
Glove, it is notorious that pine is the
least nutritious wood that child can
eat.'
My wife's hand paused in the act Of
taking the stick, and returned itself to
her lap; she bridled perceptibly, and
said: ''uubby, 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! l was under misrepresentation.
did not know that the child's kidneys
and spine were affected, and that the
family physician had recommended'-
"Who said that the child's spine and
kidneys were affected?'
''My love, you intimated it,
'Tbe idea never intimated anything
Of the kind
"Why, my dear it hasn't been two
minutes since you said''-
<'Bother what l said! l don't care
what I did say. There isn't any harm
in child's chewing bit of pine stick if
she wants to, and you know it perfectly
we'll. And she shall chew it, too So
there, nowr''
Say no more, my dear. l now see
the force of your reasoning. and | will
60 and order two or three cords of the
best pine wood to day. No child Of mine
shall want while -
ooh, 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 go to arguing,
and arguing, and arguing, till you DON
know what you are talking about, and
you never de-
every we'll, 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 sheet.
"Oh, Mortimer, there's another! Lit
tie Georgia Gordon is taken?'
s'Membranous croup?''
''Membranous Group
els there any hope Tor him q
''None in the wide world. 0, what is
to become Of Us!
BY and by our nurse brought in our
Penelope to say good night and offer the
customary prayer at mothers knee. In
the midst of ':Now | lay me down to
sleep,' she gave slight cough. My vile
fell back like one stricken with death.
But ext moment she was up and run
ming away with the activeness which ter
ror inspires.
= She commanded that the child's crib
be removed from the nursery to our bed.
room and she went along to see the or.
der executed. She took me with her, Of
course. We got matters arranged with
speed. A cot-bed was put up in my wife S
Mrs McWilllams said we were too far away
from the other baby, and what if he were
TO have the symptoms in the night !--and
she blanched again, poor thing.
We then restored the crib and the
nurse to the nursery, and put up bed
for ourselves in room adjoining.
Presently, however, Mrs. McWilliams
said: 'Suppose the baby should catch
t from Penelope e. The thought struck
--, panic to my heart, and the tribe of US
could not get the crib out of the nursery
East enough to satisfy my wife, though
she assisted in hcr own person, and we'll.
nigh pulled the crib to pieces in her fran
tic hurry.
We moved down stairs, but there was
10 place to stow the nurse, and Mrs. Nc
Williams said the nurse experience
would be an inestimable help. So we re-
urned, bag and baggage,to our own bed
Dom once more, and felt great gladness
ike storm buffeted birds that have found
heir nests again.
Mrs. McWillams sped to the nursery
see how things were going on there.
,he was back in a moment With a new
read. She said: ''What can make the
'aby sleep SOP
l said:' "Why, my darling, baby al
rays sleeps like craven image"
Il know, | know; but there's some-
hing peculiar about his sleep now. He
GEMS to- he seems to breathe so reg.
larly.4s Oh, this is dreadful!''
. ''But,~ my dear, he always breathes
egularly.'
"Oh, know it, but there's something
readful about it now. His nurse is too
Dung and inexperienced. Marie shall
tay there with. her, and be on hand if