The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-08-08

| A moan II was, my fora; SO went OH
through the fog to where heard it--a
by lane near that turns off from the
road, just by the millstone-and there
found woman, tramp, apparently,
who begged that would help her to
some cottage, for reasons which she
gave me.
"'Cheer up l said, Il am just the
man you want, for am a doctor, and
can see to you.'
ga little way beyond us was hut
q tumble-down affair, but it was that or
none. The one who lived there-a vile
old hag, and reputed witch--refused
us entrance. forced it, told her why,
and did my duty. In three hours af-
terwards a child was born. saved the
child, but could not save the mother.
She died soon AFTER"
"Died from exhaustionW
eyes, my lord, though not as you in
fer. 1t was, in fact, one of those nnfor-
tunate cases which we have occasional
ly to encounter, where, as too often oc-
ours, it is as much as we can do TO save
the child. Had she been lady in her
own home it would have been all one
with her; she would have had no more
chance. AS the child's life dawns, the
mothers ebbs away.
"Well, my lord, the child was living
and the mother dead, and the old hag
sat and cursed me, and refused to touch
the child, or do one thing, though first
L promised payment, and then threat
ched her, for she said The brat should
tumble out before morning-she would
not have il there.
80, finding, after repeated entrea-
ties, that there was no time to be lost in
the matter, /, disgusted with her heart
lessness, got the cob out of the shed,
and away went 10 a cottage on beyond,
about mile off and knocked them up.
Ihe woman, a workInan's wife, got up
at once, and came to take the child, and
lay the body ont, and rode back.
unfortunately, in nv haste, l had
leit on The table the hut, my lord
little case | carry, containing drugs
we very often want, amongst them
laudanum, which had to use. AS
came by the window from the shed, /
saw the old witch STOPPING by the child,
and in her hands bottle. The truth
iiashed on me and L rushed inside and
Knocked her over. The bottle was my
own, the laudanum gone, and the cork
was out. | was just in time; for the
contents, instead Of going down the
child's throat--when it would have died
lnstantly--wcnt over me, scattered as
l sent her flying"
"a most prOvidential circumstance, ;"
said his lordship. "Thc wickelness of
some people is perfectly frightful."
ut is, my lord. WE'LL" continued
the doctor, "when the old hag picked
herself out of the corner where ] had
sent her, told her my mind as TO her
vlllalny, pretty plainly, and she whined
out something about going to wet the
poor things mouth to comfort it." But
knew better, it was laudanum, and
she must have known it would kill 1t
was decided case of attempted muir
der; and so | told her.
"With that the woman came. and she
was as good soul as need be; but she
said that as she had to go to work al
seven O'Clock, and neighbors too, and
her husband at six, she must leave
there at five, to light the fire and to call
him up. So, as there was no chance in
that direction, | decided until we could
see what could be done, and lest the
child's life be sacrificed, that l would
have IL well done up in flannel-its mo-
theirs petticoat--and take it to the
" workhouse myself. But after we had
got it swaddled up carefully 1 remem-
bered that there was 10 case in the
house just then, no sucking mother. A
friend of mine, Mr.. Grant, had the care
of it, my lord, that and some parishes
and he had that day mentioned the fact
to Inc as an unusual occurrence. 1t
would therefore be better, l thought,
for The time being, to take it to the one
who had just lost her own--the one |
had come from, an old servant of our
family when we lived elsewhere. Ad-
ded to which it was five miles to the
workhouse and less than three to her;
and even in that short distance it was
risky business, as the cold might kill
the child. Still it was a chance for it,
and, slight as that chance was, it SEEM
ed to me, my lord, that it was better to
take it than to risk the child being left
again to that horrible old woman.
"Decidedly," said the Judge. ''You
acted wisely, sir, and may say nobly.
Many would have left it."
''Then they would not have done
their duty" said the doctor. Leaving
the woman there TO see to things, and
paying her for her trouble, / told the
old one that | would in the morning
make the necessary arrangements with
the parish authorities for the removal
of the body, and them" continued the
doctor, al started with the child under
my cloak, warm and wrapped up; my
one arm around it and the other free,
and with shake of the rein, away /
went, full galop, back up the hill again
for the house in the forest, the one had
come from, my lord, where the child
lay dead"
The total silence that had prevailed
in the court while the doctor made his
statement, was here again broken by
his lordship:
al see" said he, "and did you notice
anything as you went up?'
81 believe so, my lord"
"Iou have no recollection ofanything
beyond thatf"
81 have not, my lord"
Nothing about my poor little
wretch'r'
80, yes, my lord, l did. For as the
child cried, thought ofhow | had saved
it, and that if l could but get il housed
quickly, il might even yet live"
"Just think, DOCTOR" said his lord
ship, Sand see If you can give us the ex-
act words. 1t is important.
After considering for minute or
two, during which time one might have
heard pin drop, 81 think" said the
doctor, ''it was this, though could not
swear to it; poor little wretchl but
it's chance If we can do it, meaning,
my lord, If l could reach the forest
without the cold air striking the child"
The judge laid down his pen and sat
back in his chair. 1t was as good as
over
There was decided stir in the court,
and shutfling of feet; q great feeling of
relief in the mind of those assembled,
causing a change of position but it was
but momentary, as the counsel for the
prisoner at once arose, and said:
~ have no question to ask, nv lord.'