The Red Cloud chief., 1876-03-30
MARK TWAIN.
he II OF a Cn>e Of Group In the Nc
williams Family.

he Tells OF a Cnse Of Group In the Nc
Williams Family.
Well, to 90 back where 1 was before l
depressed TO explain to you how that
frightful and incurable disease, mem
branous Group, was ravaging the town
and driving all mothers mad with ter
ror, / called Mrs. McWilliams's atten-
ton to little Penelope, and said: "Dar-
ling. I wouldn't let that child he chew
ing that pine stick, if l were YOU"
"Precious, where is the harm in itf'
said she, but at the same time preparing
to take away the stlck-for women can
net 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 tnat a child can
eat"
Nv wife's hand paused in the act of
taking the stick, and returned itself to
her lap; she bridled pcrceptibly, 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 ~kindneys."
"Ah! l was under a misrepresentation
l did not know that the ctild's kidneys
and spine were affected, ani that the
family physician had recommended
'Who said tina, the child's spine and
kidneys were affected2"
"My love, you minated it."
"The idea! 1 never intimated any
thing of the kind"
"Why, my dear, it hasn't been two
minutes since you said"-
"Br,ther what l said! don't care
what l did say. Tneie isn't any harm !!
a child's chewing u bit of III PERFECTLY
she wants to, andiaIl chew it, too, So
well, n6wr'
"Sty no more, nv dear. l now see
the force of your rea oning. and l will
go and order two or three cords f the
best pine wood To day. No child Of
mine shall want while u
"Oh, please go along TO your office
and LET me have NE peace. A body
can never make the S mplest remark but
you must take it up and go to argu Eg,
and arguing, MI YOU don't know what
you are talking about, and you never do"
VERY we'll, II snail be n. you saw.
But there is a Want OF logic in ynur last
remark which,
However, she was gone with a flourish
before l'coula tinisi. and had taken IN.
child with her. Thet night, at dinner.
she confronted me with a face as white
as a sheet.
"On, Mortimer, there's another! Lit
tie George Gordon is taken"
"Membrauous croupl"
"M.mbranous Group"
as there any hope for himi"
"None in the wide world. Oh, what
IL to become OF us3"
BY and by cur nurse brought in our
Penelope to say good night, and offer
the customary prayer at mothers knee.
In The midst Of Nov, l lay me down
to Sleep" she gave a slight cough. My
wife fell back ike enc stricken with
death. But Eek moment she was up
and running away with the activeness
which terror inspires.
She commanded that he child'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 dressing room for the nurse.
But now Mrs. McWiillams said we were
too far away from the other baby, and
what if he were 10 have the symptoms
in the night2-and she blanched again.
poor thing.
We then restored the crib and the
nurse to the nursery, and put up a bed
for ourselves in a room adjoining.
Presently, however. Mrs. McWiIliams
suppose the baby should catch
it from Penelopef" This thought struck
3 new panic to her heart, and the tribe
of US could not get the crib out Of the
nursery again last enough to satisfy my
wife, thou-h she assisted in her own
person. and we'll nigh pulled the CRIB to
pieces in her frantic hurry.
We moved down stairs, but there was
40 place to stow the nurse, and Mrs.
n civilians said the nurses experience
yould be an inestimsble help. So We
returned, bag and baggage, to our own
ed .room once more, and felt a great
,ladpess, like storm buffsted birds that
ave found their nests again.