Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-10-13
THAT MEDICINE FLASK.
By E. b. BRADLEY


The father, who was small trades
man, was away taking fall orders, it
being now about the6rst ofSeptember,
but he was exI ecttd LONE the next
day, and with glad heart she held
her daughter on her knee and told
her papa would be home in the morn
ing. And the little one laughed and
prattled swce,ly till the sandman
came around, and as she kneIt 10
say her "Now l lay me-" added,
'Please bod take care of papa and
bing him safe home"
The mother tucked her up and
gave her good night kiss, smiling to
see the eyelids droop upon the rosy
checks, then sat down to finish
little dress for her, cumming happy
song.
Meanwhile the train sped over the
rails, bringing the husband home
ward. In the early morning he land
cd at Jersey City, crossed the fer
ry and hurried with joyous steps to
greet her wife and children.
The trip had been a 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
uplifed finger. "Hush,p she said,
SHE 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 chair, first taking
travelling flask from the pocket and
setting it on the table.
Shave you needed that" ss'sed his
wife.
"Ah, no" was the answer. Have
been perfectly we'll, but it is good
to have in case OF trouble. Can do
nc 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 a dull
thud IN the dining.room, and look
ing in they saw Mary senselcss upon
the floor.
"What can be the matter!" cried
the father, catching up the white
figure. "See, she has on one shoe
and one stocking. She was dressed
and heard my voice and started to
come to me-"
'Oh! John, "gasped his wife; "lhe
whiskey. Lookl" and she held up
the flask, from which three or four
ounces were gone.
The glittering glass had evidently
caught Mary's eye, and, childlike,
she had stopped to taste, though how
she swallowed such q draught no
one has ever been able to under.
stand.
The father sank white and trem-
bling into chair. The mother
caught the child from him, and shook
her violently to waken her; but in
vain. The head fell back, and the
arms dropped heavily.
eve can do nothing. We must
have doctor!' she cried.
He staggered to his feet, and
reached for his hat. "We 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 neighbcr,
and, wrapping little Mary in shawl,
they rushed into the street. At the
end of the block they met a police
man, 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 be-
gan All day doctors and nurses
worked over the little form, while
the sorrowing parents looked help
lessly 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 RENE
dies. 1t was by his order that cleo.
tricity was applied and oxygen gas
poured into the lungs in the vain
hope of preventing the deadly par
alysis, which had involved 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
were too far affected by the alcohol
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 fearful
ly from the bed.
Hospital rules had been set aside
and the mother asked to remain by
her child all night. The father who
had gone home to care for the baby
came in just after the end. But over
their sorrow let 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 cor.
oner's jury. 1t was poison case,
and no doctor could give certif-
cate. The little form had to be Civ.
en- IN To the knife IN nrova that