National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-25
A TERRIBLE MISTAKE,
MIR. Murphy Prepares His Onsprine's NJ.
triIncnt-The Particulars.

The condensed milk upon which Mrs. Murphy
fed her baby was keptat night upon the window
Sill IN the nursery, where the cool air. drawing in
under the opened SASH would envelop the can
ohe night when the baby was unusually trouble
some Mr. Murphy, faithful and self.sacrifcinp
father and husband, said that he would 20 to the
nursery and mix the milk for the hungry little
sufferer. The nursery was quite dark, but Mr..
Murphy had often performed the service before
ana he knew Just where TO put his hand on the
bottle and the spoon and the other things 1t han.
pened, however, that an open can of baking powder
stood upon the windowsill near to the can Of con.
densed milk, and Mr. Murphy, getting hold Of
1t, put two spoonfuls of the powder into the
bottle, filled the bottle with hot water put on
the rubber top, and went back to the bedroom.
When the baby had taken three or four swallows
ofthe mixture it pushed the bottle away and be.
gan to behave in amost extraordinary manner
After yelling with that yehemence which Is always
astonishing when the size of baby is considered,
1t turned couple of somersaults, rolled over and
over, clutched the sides of its crib and conducted
itself generally in such fashion as to fill Mr. and
Mrs. Murphy with intense alarm.
"What on earth can be the matter with Alexan.
der?" asked Mr.. Murphy, taking the bottle from
his wife, as she turned her attention wholly to the
child.
"He acts as if he had commissions" said Mrs
Murphy.
Mr. Murphy suggested spice plaster as q posi-
BILE alienation ofthe child's pain, and Mrs. Muir.
ply was Just remarking that spice plaster was
far too trivial n remedy for such spasms, when Mr.
Murphy observed the color Of the mixture in tho
bottle. He removed the top, and, standing behind
Mrs. Murphy, applied the bottle to his nose. At
once he proceeded to the nursery, and striking a
light discovered the nature of the mistake he had
made. Quickly he threw the can of baking pow.
der out of the window, emptied and washed the
bottle, filled 1t with milk and returned to the bed.
room, with the evidences of his crime as he i'm.
agined, all removed.
In an hour or two the baby grew quleter and
Mr.. Murphy went to bed, Temorseful but glad that
he had had so much presence of mind. Mrs MUIR
ply sat upall night with the injured Alexander In
her arms. Mr.. Murphy came down to breakfast
feeling upon the whole rather easy in his mind
Mrs. Murphy greeted him with fierce look in her
eyes.
"You wanted to murder your child did YOU %
she asked, with intense feeling.
"Murder my child, daringY' asked Mr. Murphy
with an ailectaion Of surprise while his heart be-
gan beating furlously. "Why, what do you mean
"You threw away the baking powder and
cleaned the bottle" said Mrs. Murphy, with II
bitter sneer, "but you forgot the spoon found
some baking powder in the spoon! Ha, Ia BE
sure your sin will find you outI If Alexander had
died you would have been q muTderer-a red.
handed murderer /"
And then Mrs, Murphy burst into tears and few
upstairs. Mr. Murphy went down town without
his breakfast and with strong determination to
refrain hereafter from providing nocturnal nutri.
ment for AlexRnder.-Fron Nursing Tie Baby" by
Dr Home