The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-17
BABY WONDER DEAD.
story OF the Life and Death OF The
Lcas1 Child That Ever Lived.

The Knoxville Journal gives the following
interesting account OF the death in that city
of the smallest child that was ever born:
Little Alma Irene Haley, the baby wonder
OF the world, is dead. Alma was on record al
the Worlds New York Medical Society as the
smallest child for her age ever known.
Alma was born March 3. 1894. AT The time
of her birth she was less than twelve inches
in length and weighed only one pound ana
half Her hands and feet were as wee as those
of a small doll. Her growth was not rapid
and al her death she weighed less than nine
rounds and was only two feet and three
quarters of an inch tall. Her eyes were
dancing and coal black. They were sweet
childish mysteries. Her hair was beautiful
brown, soft as fine silk. Once it grew eight
inches in length and her mother cut III lest IL s
rapid growth rob her of strength OF BODY. IN
form, Alma was perfect. She was nooei GEL
and for so wee, marvelousiy developed She
could walk everywhere and say any,
Thing. She had sweet baby voice and SAID
many cute things. If her mother went TO 40
a bit of house work, she would say, 81 Will 40
that" and if one began writing she would
say Irene will write She called herseii
..Eaby Irene" She never seemed To care ior
Alma. She had a little doll chair and taoie
of which she was passoDately fond. She
did not like fruits nor MOVERS. n OIL OF
banana now and then was the only irult she
ever ate She was fond of vegetables and ate
them mostly.
II was difficult to get clothes small enough
for her, especially. Shoemakers are loathe 10
undertake to make shoes so small. One, now
the shoes when Alma died. She always wore
the shoes and slippers made for dolls. She
strongly resembed a doll and her parents
when out with her were often asked II she
were a sure enough baby. Alma would some
times smile back at them TO their great sur
prise and delight. She was lovely child and
would win anyone with her smiles. They
we're rare and sweet and were graced with the
beam of her beautiful eyes. She was uni
yersal Iavorite wherever she went.
Eight or ten days ago. however, she fell
slightly ~. Wednesday night she was so
much worse that Mrs. Haley telgraphed Mr..
Haley at Middlesborough, where he was al
work and Friday morning he came home:
Alma knew him, smiled sweetly and called
him papa" She was so bright that IT did
not seem that the end was near. The trouble
was pneumonia or congestion OF the lungs
and she died with something of congeslive
spasm Yesterday morning at 23O O'Clock.
half hour before her death she called TO her
mother, who was close by. several times.
She did not suffer long before the little spirit
took It's flight. She was flower too frail for
earth and she has, gone TO bloom In Gods iair
land OF day.
She was small but she filled large place In
the hearts OF the inmates OF her home.
She was exceedingly affectionate and lavished
love upon her mother. father, little sister
and grandfather. Mr.. Compton, her grandfe,
ther, Is also small in statute and this seemed
a bond between them and they were great
friends.