spare moment with her children. And she seldom let
them go from home to visit unaccompanied by her; but one day, being very
busy, she let them go alone to their grandmother's. The distance was not
great, and Bessie, now nearly six years old, knew the way perfectly. All
would have been well had their grandmother been at home. She being away,
the girls stopped to watch some children at play. These children were
breaking old bottles that they had picked up in the alley. As the little
girls stood watching the sport, a large brown bottle was brought forth
and with a heavy stroke of the hammer was broken. Small pieces of the
glass flew in every direction. One piece struck Louise on the palm of
the hand just below the thumb, knocking off the skin, but not producing
a wound deep enough to bleed. Her grandmother, who appeared on the
scene just at this time, examined the wound. She though it would soon be
all right, but bound it up with a cloth to satisfy the child. The
children played as usual and then returned home in time for supper.

When they came in, their mother, who had been very busy through the day
at housecleaning, was preparing a hasty supper, and she gave them no
special attention. The family were soon seated around the supper-table.
They had not been there long until Mrs. Worthington noticed that Louise
was not eating. She asked the child why she did not eat, but received no
reply. On being asked if her throat was sore, Louise nodded her head.
Still the mother did not think the child's condition serious; and, after
pinning a flannel around the child's neck, she did the evening work and
prepared to attend a prayer-meeting. She had noticed the rag upon
Louise's hand, but Bessie had laughed about the little cut and said,
"Grandma tied it up just to please Louise."

Although the meeting that night was unusually good, Mrs. Worthington
could not forget the expression on her child's face as they had kissed
each other good-by. It seemed to be before her all the time; so she
really felt relieved when the meeting closed and she could return.

Upon entering her home she immediately asked her husband, "How is
Louise?" He answered that she had been very naughty and cross and that
he had been obliged to punish her. This news increased the mother's
fears. Feeling of the child's head, she found it hot and feverish.

As Louise continued to grow worse, at two o'clock in the morning Mrs.
Worthington thought it best to examine the c