Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-03-18
Membranous Group.
A SKETCH BY MARK TWAIN"

"Well," said McWilliams, "to &c
back to where 1 was before I digressed
to explain to you how that frightful and
incurable disease, membrauous Group,
was ravaging the town and driving oil
mothers mad with terror, called Mrs.
McWilliams' attention to little Penelope,
and said
"Darling, I wouldn't let that child
be chewing that pine stick il were
you."
"Precious, where's tho harm in it n
sold 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 il
the least nutritious wood that child can
eat"
My wife's hand paused, in the act Of
taking the stick, and returned it to her
lap. She bridled perceptibly, and said
Hubby, you know better than that.
You know you do. Doctors all say that
the turpentine in pine wood is good for
weak back and the kidneys"
"Ah! I was undera misapprehension.
I 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 affectedP"
"My love, you intimated it"
"The idea! l never intimated any
thing of the kind"
"Why, my dear, it hasn't been two
minutes since you said
Bother what said I don't care
what did say. There isn't any harm in
the cbild's chewing bit of pine stick
If she wants to, and you know it per
fectly we'll. And she shall chew it, too !!
So there, now !"
"Say no more, my dear. now see
the force of your reasoning, and I will
20 and order two or three cords of the
best pine wood to-day. No child of
mine shall want while T.
"Oh, please go along to your Office
and let me have some peace. A body
eau never make the simplest remark but
you must take it up and go to arguing
and arguing and arguing. till you don't
know what you are talking about, and
you never do"
every 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 nightat dinner she
confronted me with face as white as a
sheet.
"Oh, Mortimer, there's another
Little George Gordon is taken"
Membranous croup9"
"Membranous Group"
els there any hope for him :"
"None in the wide world. Oh, what
is to become Of us2
By-and-bye our nurse brought in our
Penelope to say goodnight and offer the
customary prayer at tho mothers knee.
In the midst Of "Now I lay me down to
Sleep" she gave slight cough. My
wife fell back like one stricken with
death. But the next moment she was
up and running way with the activeness
which terror inspires.
She commanded that the child's crib
be removed from the nursery to our
bedroom; 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 in my
wife's dreesing-roOm 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
highland she blanched again, poor
thing.
Wo 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 it
from Penelope9 This thought struck q
new panic to her heart, and the tribe of
US couldn't 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 down stairs, but there was
no place to stow the nurse, and Mrs.
said the nurses experience
would be ON inestimable help. So we
were turned, bag and baggage, to our
own bedrooms once more, and felt a
great gladness, like storm-buffeted birds
chat have found their nest again.
Mrs. McWilliams sped to the nursery
to see how things were going on there.
She was back in a moment with a new
dread. She said
What can make the baby sleep 30 7"
I said
"Why, my darling, baby always
sleeps like craven image"
~ know, I know; but there's some-
thing peculiar about his sleep now. He
seems to breathe 80 regularly. Oh, this
is dreadful !"
"But, my dear, he always breathes
"Oh, I know it, but there something
about it now. His nurse is too
young and inexperienced. Maria shall
stay there with her. and be on hand if
happens"
"That is q good idea; but who will
help youG"
"You can help me all want. I
allow anybody to do anything
but myself, anyhow, at such time as
this"
said would feel mean to lie abed
and sleep, and leave her to watch and
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