John Seely Hart

“ Why, Squire Tappan never come to see my old man, but he’d out with his box, and ‘Won’t you take a pinch, Mrs. Bagly?’ He was a smart man, I can tell you, and I believe it was the tobacco put the grit into him. He never spoke but he had a pinch between his thumb and finger, and it was scattered as thick among his books and papers as a French stew with pepper.”
“Well, well, Mrs. Bagly, my baby will cry itself to death if something isn’t done.”
“I know it, ma’am; it will certainly bust itself if it don’t have the smoked water;” ”

“ I conclude, even from the bottom of your heart, for you go on to say, “Oh! if these husbands, who can commence and finish their business at stated hours, and do everything by the clock, could know how tedious is the tread-mill path of one who has a troublesome, crying baby to manage, they would certainly try to initiate themselves into the mystery of baby tending, and aid us more.” ”

“ It lay like one in deep stupor, and, as I believed, the stupor of death.
“We’ve killed it—poisoned it with that vile tobacco!” I exclaimed; and, in despair, I pressed it to my bosom and wept like a child.
“Let me take the baby,” said a kind voice, and looking up I recognised Dr. Perkins.
I held it still more closely, while I begged him to tell me if there was any hope. He took the little hand in his own, and placed his ear so that he could distinguish the breathing.
“I think that we can save your babe, Helen; but,” he added, in a tone of mild authority, “you are killing yourself ”