Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-11-02
A TERRIBLE CRIME.

Some ten years ago / was appointed
surveyor of nuisances in one of tho larg-
est parishes in London, and for some
time after my appointment | was much
bothered to discover tho source of q
most extraordinary epidemic of typhoid
fever that suddenly broke out in one
particular portion Of my district. For
weeks it ragged now laying low the in
habitants OF this house; now sending
de ,pair into the souls of the dwellers in
yonder shop and, at last, after having
taken up all the drains in the district,
to find they were quite right, and only
required putting back again, was
nearly giving it up in DESPAIR, when
suddenly, to my cost, discovered all
about it.
One hot afternoon in July was 60.
ing home thoroughly tagged out. when,
on passing dairy, I bethought I was
thirsty, and, going in, I asked for and
obtained glass OF milk. After TINT I
never felt quite myself again, and, in
about ten days, I was laid by the heels
with about as bad an attack of fever as
anyone could have. I got well I was
left with the most extraordinary acute
ness of hearing, that seemed to increase
with my strength, and though my doc
tor told me that this was often the se-
quence of typhoid, it did not console me
in the least for my misfortune to know
that Others suffered too.
One evening, when August was al
most over, and began to be convinced
that, unless I could soon get into the
quiet of the country, I must go mad, 1
was coming home through streets that
felt like the inside of a dusty oven, and
was wishing l we're deaf for about the
twentieth time that day, when was
suddenly reused from my own suffer-
ings by hearing series of the sharpest,
shrillest shrieks of agony that ever
heard. I stopped one moment, and
looked to see what effect they had upon
the people in the street; but, as every
one hurried by on their own business
and did not seem one whit appalled,, I
remembered that probably the screams
only reached me and, after discovering
for myself the direction in which they
came, I darted of, dashing across
squares and under horses noses, the
screams waxing louder as went on. At
last they led me to the entrance to
news, down which I hurried, and, turn
ing to the left and up short flight of
wooden steps, I discovered they pro.
ceeded from room at the end of
passage, and, reaching the door thereof,
I burst it open, and came upon what
Was certainly most remarkable sight.
In the corner Of the room-which was
sparely furnished with bed and two
wooden chairs-crouched girl about
twenty years of age, and dancing SOL
emnly up and down in front of her was
very old woman, almost destitute OF
clothing, who was waving an immense
knife over the poor girls head; every
time she moved to try and get up from
the floor, the old female thrust her
down again, and began to use the most
awful threats, declaring that she would
murder her if she dared to alter her at
titude in the least.
lne girl saw my entrance, Dtt ulu hot
move, simply directing me with her eye
to wait quietly but seeing the old wo-
man preparing to throw herself on the
girl, 1 sprang forward, and seizing her
arms from behind, knocked the knife
out of her hand, and, in less time than
it takes 20 tell you, had her down on
one OF the chairs, and with the help Of
the girl, we tied her legs and arms Sc
curely with the sheets torn into STRIPS
after which, l came round in front Spf
her and asked what she meant by her
extraordinary behavior. She smiled
benignly at me, and, waving her hand,
begged me to be seated, adding in Il
voice that would not have disgraced an
empress, that she was very glad to be
able to welcome me to her court.
"a poor place, but mine own" she