The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-08-30
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
----------------
DEADLY MEDICINE.
One Drink of whisky that Took an Emo
cent Life.

with her two children. a little girl of
four years and a baby boy. The father,
who was a small tradeSman, was away
taking fall orders, it being now about
the first of September. but he was eX-
pected home the next day, and with d
glad heart she held her daughter on
her Lnee and told her papa would be
home in the morning. And the little
one laughed and pratted sweetly till
the sandman came around, and as
she llnelt to say her Now | lay me, y
added: please bod tate care of papa
and bring him safe home"
The mother tucked her up and gave
her her goodnight kiss, smiling to see
the eyelids droop upon the rosy checks,
then sat down to finish little dress
for her, humming happy song.
Meanwhile the train sped over the
rails, bringing the husband homeward.
In the early morning he landed at Jer-
sey City, crossed the ferry and hurried
with joyous steps to greet his wife and
children.
The trip had been success. A goodly
number of orders had been secured,
There was nothing to mar the pleasure
of the homecoming.
His wife met him at the door with
uplifted finger. Hush" she said, the
children are not awake yet. Come into
the kitchen and let us have a good talk
before Mary is up
He set down his bag and hung his
overcoat on a chair, first taking trav
cling flask from the pocket and setting
1t on the table.
Have you needed that?" asked his
wife
All, no" was the answer. ''Have
been perfectly well, but it is a good
thing to have in case of trouble. Can
do no harm and may be very useful"
Then they passed through into the
kitchen and were soon absorbed in
happy chat.
How long it lasted they never knew.
1t was interrupted by dull thud in
the dining-room, and looking in they
saw Mary senseless upon the floor.
What can be the matter" cried the
father, catching up the little white
figure. Sec. she has on one shoe and
stocking. She was dressing and heard
my voice and started to come to me"
oh! John" gasped his wife; the
whisky. Look and she held up the
flask. from which three or four ounces
were gone
The glittcring glass had evidently
caught Mary's eye, and, childlille, she
had stopped to taste, though how she
swallowed such a draught no one has
haar, lI -.
The father sank white and trembling
into a chair. The mother caught the
child from him, and shook her violent
ly to wallcn her: but in vain. The
head fell back. and the arms dropped
heavily.
We can do nothing. We must have
a doctor. she cried.
He staggered to his feet and reached
for his hat. I'VE will take her to one;
not wait for one to come he said.
The still sleeping baby was hastily
given into the care of a neighbour and,
wrapping little Mary in a shawl, they
rushed into the street. At the end of
the block they met a policeman. who
told them the quickest help was in
Bellevue hospital, and thither they
fastened
The child was carried into the baby
ward, and the fight for life began. All
day doctors and nurses worked over the
little form, while the sorrowing parents
looked helplessly on. a Fifth avenue
physician came and sat by the bed.
murmuring:
This is too bad, too bad" and racked
his brain to think of remedies. 1t was
by his order that electricity was APP
piled and oxygen gas poured into the
lungs in the vain hope OF preventing
the deadly paralysis, which had in
vOlved all the rest of the brain, from
extending to the motor centerS which
controlled the muscles of the chest and
heart But the red corpuscles of the
blood We're too far affected by, the al
cohol to be able to take up the oxygen.
The breath grew fainter and the heart
beat more feeble through the night
In the morning they ceased. and the
very doctors turned tearfully from the
bed.
Hospital rules had been set aside and
the mother asked to remain by her
(illlil al HlSlll. L ne ldtllCI w no HdN
gone home to care for the baby came in
just after the end. But over their sor-
row let a veil be drawn.
But even this was not the end for
them. There remained not only the
desolate home-going and laying away
of the dead but the ordeal of a cor
oner's jury. 1t was poison case, and
TO doctor could give a certificate. The
little form had to be given up to the
knife to prove that death had really
been caused by alcohol. But no trace
of any other poison could be found.
Little Mary had died of one drink of
whisky from the medicine flask which
the father had set down, saying: 1T
is a good thing to have in case of trou
BILE. Can do no harm and may be very
useful.
SO ended the happy Homecoming
E. b. Bradley, in Union Signal.
testimony THAT TELLS.