The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-04-21
terrible Mistake.

The condensed milk upon which Mrs
Murphy fed her baby was kept at night
upon the window-sill in the nursery.
wherethe cool air, drawing in under the
opened sash, would enyelop the can.
One night when the baby was unusually
troublesome, Mr.. Murphy, faithful and
self-sacrificing father and husband; said
that he would go to the nursery and
mix the milk for the hungry little
sufferer. The pursery was quite dark,
but Mr.. Murphy had often performed
the service before. and he knew just
where to put his hand on the bottle and
spoon and the other things. 1t hap
1rooa Nfi upon aa se Ga
sill, near to the can of condensed milk,
and MIR. Murphy, getting hold of it,
put two spoonfuls OF the powder into the
bottle. filed 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 OF the mixture it pushed
the bottle away and began to behave in
most extraordinary manner. After
yelling with that vehemence that is
always astonishing when the size of q
baby is considered, it turned couple
OF somersaults, rolled ever and over,
clutched the sides of the crib and con-
Quoted itself generally in such fashion
as to fill Mr.. and Mrs. Murphy with
intense alarm. .. .......'- -..,s
"What on earth can be the matter
with Alexander q asked Mr.. Murphy,
taking the bottle from his wife. as she
turned her attention wholly to the child.
"He acts as il he had commissions, "
said Mrs. Murphy. ....-., 81 s
ter us e. p6sslrfG n1ieSlau0n' Oh ntfias
child's pain; and Mrs. Murphy was
just remarking that a spice plaster was
far too trivial remedy Tor such spasms,
when Mr.. Murphy observed the color Of
the mixture in the bottle. Heremoved
the top, and standing behind Mrs.
Murphy applied the bottle to his ose.
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
powder out Of the window, emptied
and washed the bottle, filed it with
milk and returned to the bedroom with
the evidences of his crime, as he i'm
agined, all removed. F.,
In an hour or two the baby grew
quieter, and Mr.. Murphy went to bed,
remorseful, but glad that he had had
SO much presence OF mind. MIS- Muir
ply sat up all night with the injured
Alexander in her arms. Mr.. Murphy
came down to breakfast, feeling, upon
the whole, rather easy in his mind.
Mrs. Marphy greeted him with fierce
look in her eyes. -r rtr.t7ir..
"You wanted to murder your child,
did you p she asked, with intense feel.
ing. p, ~, .---f---,sl -------- i.-.-.--
"Murder my ahild, darling ?" asked
Mr.. Murphy, with an affectation of sur.
prise, while his head began beating
furiously. "Why, what do you mean?"
"Ycu threw away the baking pow
der and cleaned the bottle" said Mrs.
Murphy, with bitter sneer, "but you
forgot the spoonl Hound some baking
powder in the spoon Ha hal Be
sure your sin will find you outI If Al
exander had died you would have been
q murderer A red-handed murderer
And then Mrs. Murphy burst into
tears and flew upstairs. Mr.. Murphy
went down town without his breakfast
and with strong determination to re-
frain hereafter from providing noctur-
nal nutriment for Alexander Our Con-
tineat. 'i ...