The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-02-24
MEMBRANOUS GROUP.


SKETCH BY MARK TWAIN"
Well, said McWilliams, to 60 back to
where was before depressed to explain
to YOU how that trighttnl and incurable
disease, membranOus Group, was ravaging
the town and driving all mothers mad
with terror, called Mrs. McWilliams. at
tention to little Penelope, and said:
Darling, l wouldn't let that child be
chewing that pine stick if were you"
PRECIOUS, where's the harm in it?'
said she, but at the same time preparing
to take away the stick-for women cannot
receive even the most palpably judlcious
suggestion without arguing it; that is,
married women
Love, it is notorious that pine is the
least nutritious wood that q 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
Hubby, 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 chlld's kidneys
and spine were affected, and that the fam
lily physician had recommended"
WI no said that the child's spine and
kidneys were atfected!"
My love, you intimated it,
1.-The 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
hot I Il scn ~ -,
the childs chewing bit of pine stick if
she wants to, and you know it perfectly
we'll. And she shall chew il, too! So
there, now!''
Say no more, my dear. lnow see the
force of your reasoning, and will go and
order two or three cords Of the best pine
wood to-day. No child of mine shall
want while -
80, please go 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 to arguing, anu
arguing, and arguing till you don't know
what you are talking about, and you neosr
do"
VERY we'll, it shall be as you say. But
there is want OF logic in your last re-
mark 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 a
sheet.
30, Mortimer, there's another! Little
George Gordon is taken"
Membranous crOup!"
Membranous Group"
:" Is there any hope for him:"
" None in the wide world. o, what is
to become of us?"
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 Now l lay me down to
Sleep" she gave slight cough. NY wife
fell back like one stricken with death.
But the next moment she was up and run
ming away with the activeness which
terror inspires. E
She commanded that the chlld's crib be
removed from the nursery to our bed
room and she went along to see the order
executed, She took me with her, of
course. We got matters arranged with
speed. A cot bed was put up in my wife's
dressingroOm for the nurse. But now
Mrs. McWilliams 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 aud tile nurse
to the nursery, and put up bed for our
selves in room adjoining.
Presently, however, Mrs. McWiIliams
said. suppose the baby should catch it
from Penelope? This thought struck a
new panic to her heart, and the tribe of
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 in
her frantic hurry.
We moved downstairs, but there was
no place to stow the nurse, and Mrs. Nc.
Williams said the nurses experience
would be an inestimable help. 50 we re-
turned, bag and baggage, to our own bed
rooms once more, and felt great Glad.
ness, like stOrm-bufeted birds that have
found their nest again. I
Mrs. McWilliams sped to the nursery
to see how things we're going on there
She was back in. Z moment with q new
dread. She said: 4 FISi3 = a.
What can make the baby sleep sQr'a
why, my darling, Baby alsoays sleeps
like craven image" ,ssS.A sss ii i
81 know, l know; but there's some-
thing peculiar shout HIS sleep now. He
seems to-he seems to breathe 60 rsyuknrsv.
u, this is dresdfuip, w.
But, my dear, he always breathes reg.
ularly." 81 fCs5E T.If =
"Oh, know 1t, but there's something
dreadful about it now. His nurse is too
young and inexperienced. Maria shall
stay there with her, and be on hand If
anything happens"
That is q good idea; but who will
help you" fEttEt
You can help me oil l want. Il
wouldn't allow snybody 10 do anything
but myself, anyhow, at such time 8
this"
l said | would feel mean tolie abed and
sleep, and leave her to watch and toll ovse
our little patient all the weary ni6At But
she reconciled me to it. So Old Maria
departed and took up her ancient quar-
tiers in the nursery.
Penelope coughed twice In her sleep.
,."Oh, why don't the doctor come
Mortimer. this room is too warm. This
room 10 certainly too warm. Turn of
the register-quick!'
! shut it of, glancing It the thesmome.