The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-04-06
ToMMY's TREATMENT.

Il
reaching towards the bell.
Crash! The china bowl lay in pieces
on the floor, and Tommy's bread ant
milk was streaming over the carpet
In moment the servant had borne hin
kicking and screaming from the room
Mrs. Harris looked at her husband
despairingly.
"Where did that child get his tenper?'
"Not from you, my dear, I am sure
and / can't remember that / ever hat
such tantrums. l should have beer
soundly horsewhipped if such had beer
the case, and served me right. Some
| thing must be done with that boy. Ht
gets worse and worse and Mr.. Har
ris pushed his chair back impatiently
and left the table.
All this time Uncle Charlie had moi
spoken. Now he said:
"Give Tommy up to me to-day, and
I'll warrant a cure"
Mrs. Harris looked incredulous.
"You'll have nothing to do with him, .
said Uncle Charlie again; ''rll under
take his management; and he laughed
heartily.
every well,' replied his sister. "I've
been wanting to go over to mothers foi
a day"
"Now's your chance; only don't
let Tommy know you're going"
And so it happened that when, an
hour afterward, Tommy came sulenly
down stairs, his mamma wasn't to be
found.
Mammal he shouted, stamping his
foot in n rage, "where be your' But
of course there was no answer.
Then he rushed into the library, and
slammed the door savagely. Uncle
Charlie was there, reading the morning
paper. He didn't look up when Tom
my burst in so unceremoniously, which
fact rather surprised the young gentle
man, who had always been accustomed
to carry things by storm.
"Where's mamma?' he demanded
fiercely, looking as young savage, mi
nus his war paint, might be supposed
to look.
No answer. Uncle Charlie looked
up as if surprised.
"Where's my mamma, say!' yelled
Tommy again, the veins in his throat
standing out like great whip cords.
'I'll strike you if you don. tell"
Uncle Charles look of surprise
changed to one of pity, Tommy fancied.
He softened his voice little.
"WOn't you tell me where mamma is?''
"Oh, is it you, Tommy? | wasn't
sure. Your mother has gone over to
grandma's".
TOmmy's black eyes flashed. and his
fists doubled themselves up tightly
ominous signs with him.
"Gone to grandma's 'lthout me? WHY
didn't she let me go? What? what ? Oh
600! and oyer Tommy went, flat on
his back, and his cOpper-toed boots be-
gan TO fly against the door, the wall,
wherever they happened to hit.
Uncle Charlie calmly laid down his
paper, pulled the bell rope, put on Il
pair of thick buckskin gloves, walked
towards Tommy, looking oueerlv. just
then the servant made his appearance.
$50 to DR.. Merriman's as quickly as
possible, John; | fear poor Tommy has
q manacal attack"
'Poor Tommy stopped kicking and
screaming long enough to wonder what
sort of thing ''maniacal attack" was.
Something very bad, he had no doubt,
Uncle Charlie was Watching him anx-
iously, and Tommy began to feel little
uneasy.
So they remained, Tommy kicking
with all his might-and it wasn't a
small might, ! assure you-and Uncle
Charles eyes fixed gravely and steadi-
ly upon him until DR. Merriman came.
He was queer little man, with IA
round jolly face, and keen sense of
humor. Tommy was a great favorite
of his. "a fine boy, fine boy" he was
wont to remark" if 'twern't for those
tantrums" He took in the situation at
a glance.
"Oh! see, see" he said, rubbing
his hands together briskly. "a clear
case of temporary alteration. Poor
little fellow! Is madness hereditary in
yopr family" This to Uncle Charlie,
who still kept his grave eyes fixed on
Tommy.
If fTommy was astonished before, he
was thunderstruck now. His heels lay
still for a moment.
'Now you see, doc" he began.
"Yes, my boy, know" said the doe
tor, quietly, (Which room shall YOU
pat him in, Mr.. Charlie!"
'The large one in the south wing,
think. You'll need gloves. pr. Merri-
man." displaying his own hands, ''he'll
be apt to bite"
So they took Tommy between them,
striking and pinching, and screaming at
the top of his lungs, to the room In the
south wing. Then, while Uncle Charlie
undressed him, Dir. Merriman went TO
prepare some medicine suitable for his
Cease"
"There." coming in after Uncle Char
lie (despite "poor Tommyis" ropanfed
declarations that he "wouldn't go, no,
Sir!') had placed him safely in bed.
"there, Wen give him this now" and
straightway Tommy's mouth was open
ed, and generous quantity of worm
wood tea poured down his unwilling
throat.
"Oh! Oush. Oh-o-ow he gasped,
almost strangled.
''Yes, poor little boy.' the doctor
said again, soothingly. III think Mr..
Charles, this attack will be of short
duration. However, should advise
the application of mustard drafts to lis
feet, and above all, keep his head cool
Give some of this" (pointing to the
wormwoOd tea) "every fifteen minutes
If he is no more quiet" CTommy be
came suddenly quieD ''at the end of m
hour send for mel" and the doctor Went
out, iollOWtu Dl l ncle tldilf, WIN
locked the door after him.
Tommy lay there very still. think
an inkling of the cause of this strange
preceding flashed into his mind, for he
gave queer little gaspsng "Ohl" and
shut his eyes tight 10 keep the tears back
By-and-by Uncle Charlie opened the
door. Tommy was asleep, he thought
and he was backing out softly.
Uncle Charlie!" camea little tremb
ling voice from the bed.
rWell, IL mmy, are YOU better nowr
~ wasn't sick. you know; only--onl,
mad. just mad, Uncle Charlie"
"And don't you know, my dear boy
said Uncle Charlie, sitting down beside
the bed, "don't ION know, Tommy THAI
! this same madness Is The most danger
Gus sort Of sickness? IL makes murder
crs, like the one YOU saw last spring
you remember. II causes men TO be
Stunned by their fellows. Don't you
know that Won Yourself. Tommy. were