Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-05

II
| i fui 10 witness ~ the suffering " a baby
| We all realized this when the maid from
| the apartment across the hall from mlnc
rushed into my living room. holding In her
arms tiny baby rigid and blue M u It
were already dead
"ls tho baby dead?" she gasped. her face
| conyulsed with grief aud fear. MY
! madam ia NJ the theater. and the baby has
been fretty for two hours. and just minute
ago no atiTencd out like this oh, dear
! on. dear Hhe began 10 sob
stop that" Lillian Gales voice rang out
! like n trumpet Tho baby Ia not dead II
! is In a convulson Give II TO mo and run
back 10 your apartment and bring some
! warm blankets"
Of the slR persons NJ our little chaflng-
dish supper 10 suddenly Interrupted Ehc
was the only one who knew what to do I
had been able 10 qulct Mra LnHtnr'H hys-
terIa by telling her at once that the baby
was not her own. az she had so wildly
Imagined. but | was helpless before the
babys danger
IIliianH orders came thick and fast
Mrs Graham, quick got tho wash boiler.
n foot bath. anything big enough TO put
this baby In. Put some hot water in Il
aud bring II here. with some dry mustard.
Dlcky, Harry Frank ono ~ you phone for
doctor Daisy stop crying and help me
here"
Aa she spoke aho had taken tho baby
from tho maid and was deftiy undressing
tho tiny. rigid body.
rushch to the kitchen 10 flnd Katie aI-
rcndy nillng foot bath. a roilc of my
boarding .housc days. with hot water.
II hear. MlsTia Graham ! tlnk ! get II
ready qucock," Rhc said as she worked
'"rhnt was splendid, katie" I answered
gratefully. Enntching the mustard from lta
shelf and hurrylng back. followed by Katie
bearing the tub
"Dniay. take the baby n minute" Mrs.
Underwood laid the unconscious infant IN
Mrs. hostcr's trembling arms and. pushing
up her loose sleeve ia the shoulder. plunged |
her elbow into the wnter.
Just right" she commented Here" |
Rhc held out her hand for the mustard. I |
handed II to her and she shook n liberal |
portion into. the water
"Str that around 80 TINT II will dissolve"
Hhe said. AS | did 30 she took the baby |
from Mrs Lcstcr's arms aud. knccling I'M
incrscd the little body IN the hot water.
Hold him while rub him" shc Had 10
me. | obcycd her. but as I took the baby
In my arms she noticed my face. had
never held n baby In my life and 1 waR
afraid might drop or iniurc It.
you can't hurt him" she said cncour.
ngIngly "There one hand under his
back that's right"
Katie" She was rubbing tho tiny limbs
yet tenderly, as she spoke.
"Yos, MisHis Underwood" Katie dashed
forward, eager, alert to help.
Bring me a woolcn blanket We can't
walt for that idiot"
HOW MADGE HELPED
IAN right" Katie dashed for my bed
'oom door. but the appearance Of the maid.
aden with blankets. stopped her. She came
lnck and, snntching n blanket from the
'ther girl held it ready for Mrs. Under
Yood's need.
Put It on the steam pipe Katlo"--NTrs
Underwood looked up an instant and smiled
bn III " | 4
o hand II to me when tell you"
She kept up her rubbing, while held the
,nby. afraid even to breathe. Tho maid |
lad fallen on her lsnees and was praying {
lently, Mrs Lester. her face showing her
truggle between her desire TO help and her
onglng to rush home to her own baby, was
eside us. Katie stood like sentinel at
he steam pipe. Dicky was at the tele-
hone where | could hear him trying to
.et the number OF physician in the next
'lock. Mr., Lester nnd MIR Underwood s
TODD helplessy near him ;
There" Lllian's voice In It's relief be- t
rnyed the anxiety she had felt He's q
oming out Of It," n
could detect no movement of the little /
ody, and looked inqurlngy at her, c
Ills eyelIds are switching" she said in ]
nswer TO my look,
Even as she spoke the limbs relaxed. the
srrble blue look faded from the little face,
nd the baby gasped his way back to life.
Quick, Katie, the blanket. Hold the
arm side toward me-"
Katie rushed forward, ObeyinR dIrec-
ons like a soldier AS she reached Mrs
nderwood'H side Lillian lifted the baby
ut Of the water and laying IT, dripping as
was. on the warm blanket wrapped the
oolen folds about IT, and sitting down in
le nearest chair. laid the baby fiat on her
-, looking anSiously into the tiny face,
III you have IA hot-water bag, Mrs.
raham, fll 1t and bring II here. Katie. put
10 teakettle on the gas stove. | may have
add some hot water TO this In the tub
another seizure comes"
BABYs MOTHER ARRIVES
"Oh. will he have another?" Mrs Les
r cried out. and the girl on her knees
,hoed her words with long. high-pitched
all.
"If you utter another sound shall loci,
'u In room by yourself until your mis-
ess comes home"
Mrs Underwood spoke slowly. tonsely,
the maid and the girl oheyed her mutely.
Who is the baby's physician?" she asked
o girl,
Doctor Matthews, on Elghty-ffth street
Q is out OF town"
II am afraid another OF these may come
l." Lillian spoke half to herself. then
arply TO DlclSy who had hung up the
eetyer and was coming toward us.
here directly"
Good DO you know these people across
Q hall when you see them"
II would know tho man, 1 never have
an his wife"
Then you wait in the hall between these
o apartments until they come home
icy ought 10 be here pretty soon the
'atres are out by this tme Try not
Frlghtsn the mother any more than you
2 help, Tell her frst that the baby Is all
INT now, but was III and is In here"