The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-24
4 villain that Turks in the Woods.


a Villain that Turks in the Woods.
IL. II. Kane, NJ. D.. in Harper's Young People I.
Those of our readers who are SO fortunate
September and October will find them the
piesSantest months in the year. There is
just enough Of the frost Of winter in the cool
air 10 redden the cheeks, set the blood ting.
ling through the veins, cause the eyes to
sparkle, and make life seem even better
worth living than ever before.
What pleasure it is TO wander in the woods
and meadows, gather the late flowers, poke
and pry into the trees with hollow trunks,
watch wild-eyed rabbits, startled by your
voice or step, dart rapidly from brush or
thicket, and to gather the leaves that nature
has so quickly and beautifully painted 10
such beautiful colorsI
But there is a danger that turks in these
pleasant meadows and fragrant woods. Not
wild animals such as dash out from the
jrDgles OF India or jump upon you from the
trees, but villain that is apt to lull every
suspicion you might otherwise have of his
evil intentions, for, like many other dan
ssTOus villains, he is handsomely dressed, and
not only does not look as if he would do you
any harm, but on the contrary, resembles
things that you know TO be good, aud of
which you feel no fear.
Nearly every or girl who has wandered in
the cool shady wood paths, or by the side of
brooks and ponds, has seen him every sum-
mer and autumn, either standing alone or
leaning no against stone wall or broken
fence. Children who meet him should pass
him by at once, not stopping for moment
TO take any of the handsome flowers or eat
any of the temptingfruit he offers. Many
children that have done so have been made
very sick by it, and some poor little unfor-
Inmates have been killed.
For this dangerous villain is plant, aud
fhiG handGOma Il danCnrOr7s Ms nj ic knouup
by the hard Latin name Atropa belladonna,
or, more commly, deadly nightshade. lt
stands about three feet high, has a thick
fleshy stem with branches, and is usually
found in damp or cool places, such as woods,
revines, the edges of swamps, or against
stone walls or ruins
1t is very handsome when in full bloom,
and is very apt to attract the attention of
children, who from the beauty of its flowers
or the tempting look of its fruit, often pluck
the former and eat the latter, al WAYS dan
gerous and sometimes a fatal proceeding.
The flowers, which usually appear in June
and July are large beIl-like in shape
and of dull reddish color. They usually
hang downward by narrow and seemingly
fTail stem. The leaves of the plant are oval,
pointed, Of dusky green color on top and
psler green underneath. They hang in pairs,
and are nearly of the same size.
The berries. which are the most dangerous,
owing to the likelihood that the little ones
may gather and eat them, are when ripe
often mistaken for wild cherries, both from
their shape and color. AT first green, they
grow red and when ripe are of deep
purplish red color. At first somewhat ovate
(egg.shaped), and having shallow furrow
Oh either side, they grow round as they grow
riIe, which ripenlng usually takes place in
September.
As no cherries. wild or domesticafed
Of nd fO-
oe found as late as September, or on such
bush, the chlld who bears this in mind is
not likely 10 make the serious mistake that
so many have alTesdy made. Then, too the
tss's though sWeetish, is not ike that of
cherry. and the seeds are very different In
the bellsdonna berry the capsule (stOne) is
found comparatively soft and TO consist OF
two compartments, or sacs, filed with email
seeds.
Children who have eaten these poisonous
berries become very SICK and V0mit. The
pupils of their eyes enlarge very much, their
Threats and siOmacbs burn, their faces flush,
and their bodies get as red as those OF boiled
Holsters. Indeed, they look just as If they
had an attack of scarlet fever, They grow
very weak, aud soon begin to be delirous;
that is to say, they talk, laugh, sing, cry,
scream, tear the bed-clothes. toss and roll,
and grow perfectly wild, while a hot lever
RACES. Sometimes convulsiOus (hts) follow,
until at last, worn out with pain ana suIIer-
ing they find rest and peace IN death.
This is why il is so very important that ev-
cry boy and girl who wanderers in the fields
and woods should learn to know this hand
some and terribly dangerous villain who
Turks in the cool and shady places and that
so temptingly offers them his gaudy flowers
and pun pie, death dealing fruit And from
him, too, they may at the same time learn
the much worn, but very useful adage, that
appearances are but too often deceptive, and
that some of the most wicsed and danger
Gus men and things IN this life are oftel the
most pleasant to look upon, the most enter
tqining in their speech, and the most tempt
ing in the promised pleasures they hold
forth.