Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-03-18


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 good idea; but who will
help you9"
"You can help me all I want. i
wouldn't allow anybody to do anything
but myself, anyhow, at such a time as
this. 4"
1 said 1 would feel mean to lie abed
and sleep, and leave her to watch and
toll over our little patient all the weary
night. But she reconciled me to it. So
old Maria departed and took up her an
cient quarters in the nursery.
Penelope coughed twice in her sleep.
"Oh, why don't the doctor come
Mortimer, this room is too warm. This
rooiu is certainly too warm. Turn of
the register-qnick |"
1 shut it of, glancing at the thermom-
eter at the same time, and wondering to
myself if seventy was too warm for a
sick child.
The coachman arrived from down
town now with the news that our ply
sician was i'll and confined to his bed.
Mrs. McWilliams turned dead eye
upon me, and said in a dead voice
"There is Providence in it. 1t is fore
ordained. He never was sick before.
Never. We have not been living as we
ought to live. Mortimer, time and time
again have told you so. Now you see
the result. Our child will never get
well. Be thankful if you can forgive
yourself. never can forgive myself" "
| I said, without intent to hurt, but
with needless choice of words, that l
could not sec that we had been living
such an abandoned life.
"Mortimerl Do you want to bring
the judgment upon the baby, too9"
Then she began to cry, but suddenly
exclaimed
"The doctor must have sent medi-
cines !"
said:
Certainly; thev are here. 1 was
only waiting for you to give me a
chance"
"Well, do give them to me Don't
you know that every moment is precious
now2 But what was the use in sending
medicines when he knows that the
disease is incurable 2"
I said that while there was life there
was hope.
"Hopel Mortimer, you know no
more what you are talking about than
the child unborn. If you would AS
1 live, the directions say give one tea
spoonful once an hour Once an hour
as if we had whole year before us to
save the child in Mortimer, please
hurry. Give the poor, perishing thing
tablespoonful, and try to be quick /"
"Why, my dear, q tablespoonful
might - "Don't drive me frantic /
There, there, there. my
precious, my own; it's nasty, bitter
stuff, but it's good for Nelly-good for
mothers precious darling; and it will
make her we'll. There, there, there !;
put the little head on mammals breast,
and go to sleep, and pretty soon Oh,
I know she can't live till morning |
Mortimer, tablespoonful every half
hour will Oh, the child needs bella
donna, too; know she does and
aconite. Get them, Mortimer. Now
do let me have my way. You know
We now went to bed, placing the crib
close to my wife's pillow. All this tur-
MOL had worn upon me, and within two
minutes l was something more than
half asleep. Mrs. McWilliams reused
me:
Darling, is that register turned on9"
"No."
81 thought as much. Please turn it
on at once. This room is cold"
l turned it on, and presently fell
asleep again. l was aroused once more.
"Dealie. would you mind moving
the crib to your side of the bed2 1t is
nearer the register"
[ moved it, but had collision with
the rug and woke up the child. 1 dozed
off once more, while my wife quieted
the sufferer. But in little while these
words came murmuring remotely
through the fog of my drowsiness {:
Mortimer, if we only had some
goose grease. Will you ring2"
[ climbed drearily out, and stepped
on cat, which responded with pro-
test, and would have got a convincing
kick for it if chair had not got it in
stead.
"Now, Mortimer, why do you want
to turn up the gas and wakeup the child
again p"
because 1 want to see how much
am hurt, Caroline"
Woll, look at the chair, too. I have
no doubt it is ruined. Poor cat, sup
pose you had -
Now l am not going to suppose any
thing about the cat. 1t never would
have occurred if Maria had been allow
ed to remain here and attend to these
duties, which are in her line and are not
in mine"
"Now, Mortimer, should think You
would be ashamed to make remark
like that. 1t is pity if you cannot do
the few little things that ask of you at
such an awful time as this, when our
child -
"There, there; I will do anything
you want. But I can't raise anybody
with this bell, They're all gone to bed.
Where is the goose grease 2"
son the mantelpiece in the nursery.
1t you will step there and speak to
Maria -
I brought the goose grease and went
to sleep again. Once more I was
called.
Mortimer, so hate to disturb you,
but the room is still too cold for me to
try to apply this stuff. Would you mind
lighting the fire 1T is all ready to
touch match to-"
dragged myself out and Lii the fire,
and then sat down, disconsolate.
Mortimer, don't sit there and catch
your death of cold. Come to bed"
AS 1 was stepping in, she said:
"But wait q moment. Please give