The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-08-26
BABY's SKULL CRUSHED
BY Fall on Its Mothers Head In Game
ofBounoe.

Four -year-old Dora Elbrecht, hu-
man doll, was laughing In her moth.
er's eyes, and every time the strong
arms tossed her in the air the musical
sound rippled out into the street from
the windows Of the Elbrecht home, at
No. 1872 StanGon street, New York.
Here she goes over the moon!'
Once again the childish laughter
rang out, but suddenly ceased. The
babys head had struck against her
mothers forehead as she was falling
into the eager arms, and tile brown
curls d eped as a baby hand clutched
fats ttio IuotheS u fcsS..ss 3
oh, baby. did 1T hurt you? See,
mamma will kiss 1t and make it we'll.
Naughty old head to hurt baby sol
We'll just whip the naughty old head.
Just watch mamma beat It'll"
There was a faint smile In the
brown eyes and then the lids closed.
The laughter was hushed. !,
Never mind, Dora's tired and she'll
go to bed," said Mrs. Elb-echt,
smoothing the tangled curls. Hum
ming a lullaby, the mother removed
the little shoes and stockings, white
frock and petticoat and gently laid
the child In her crib.
Monday night, when the father
caEle up stairs from his work and
kissed the child, the only one that
had come to brighten his home, the
mother told how the child had slept
all the afternoon. Dora had been
sick Sunday and both parents were
anxious about her.
Yes" said the father, "The poor
little girl is sick, and the sleep will do
her good. She was down In the store
playing with the tailor's needles, and
| told her to come up and ask you to
bounce her."
i did, but she bumped her little
head and spoiled the game" said his
wife.
Little Dora seemed to sleep soundly
all night. In the morning she was
still sleeping.
Better wake her." said the father,
and the mother called to Dora, but
the child slept on.
Come now, sleepy-eyes, wake up"
said Mrs. Elbretch, lifting the child
from the cradle, but she could not
arouse the little one. A tell-tale red
mark on the side OF the chlld's head
meant no more than bump to the
mother
Father and mother both became
alarmed when they could not awaken
Dora, and Elbrecht ranIto Gouverneur
Hospital and asked for medical assis-
tance. An ambulance was sent to
the house, and DR.. Dosch saw at a
glance that the child was dying. He
found that It's skull had been crushe d
like an egg shell. He took the child
to the hospital in the hope OF saving
It's life.
Thursday afternoon, however, lit
tie Dora died In the hospital, and the
father, heartbroken went to his home,
where the shadow Of death had blot
ted out the light of childs laughter,
and the patter OF little feet echoed
only In memory, to tell his wife that
their baby girl was dead.
The mother still believes the child
died Of an illness. The father has
not the courage to tell her that her
kisses to make the little head we'll
were. in vain. Mrs. ElbIecht is almost
frantic with grief, and for fear OF a
complete collapse was not allowed to
see the body Of her dead child.
She must remember her darling
only as she saw her last-the brown
curls plllowing OH one tiny arm, the
other bare arm stretched above hel
head, sleeping sleep from which she
never awakened.