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Literary
January 11, 1923
Catoctin Clarion
Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland
What is this article about?
In a poor family, seven-year-old Barbara Elvin dies from a fever when her drunken father disturbs the quiet needed for her recovery at midnight. The doctor laments that perfect quiet would have saved her, highlighting the deadly impact of strong drink on the innocent child.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Sacrifice of Barbara
Barbara Elvin lay sick of a fever.
Her thin hands grasped the bed clothes tightly and her skin was parched and burning.
Barbara was a bright and beautiful little girl of seven summers, the only child of a poor washerwoman and very dear to her mother.
"The fever will turn tonight, I think at twelve o'clock," said Dr. Morton, as he went out of the room. "Everything depends on her being kept quiet at that time. It will be life or death."
How quiet the room was! Not a sound could be heard except the quick breathing of the delirious child and the stifled sobs of the mother.
"I do hope her father won't come in drunk," whispered Mrs. Elvin softly to herself, as she rocked to and fro, watching the sweet face of her child.
Suddenly that noiseless room was disturbed by the clock in a distant steeple striking twelve.
Footsteps were heard on the rickety stairs.
"Thank God, I hear the doctor," sighed the mother and she saw a change coming over the face of her child and the light of reason shining in the beautiful blue eyes.
The footsteps which sounded on the stairs were not those of the doctor but her husband. Oh! how sadly mistaken she had been!
As the footsteps came nearer the door Barbara sprang up in bed and grasped her mother's dress, while her eager gaze was fixed on the door.
"Father has come home drunk, mother, and he'll beat us! he'll beat us!" cried the excited child, remembering but too well how often he had done so.
When the door opened and her father staggered into the room poor Barbara screamed and sank back unconscious.
Dr. Morton, coming in half an hour later took in the whole scene at a glance. "She will never be conscious again in this world," he said softly.
"Oh! if her father could but realize that he has sent his angel-child out of the world forever. Perfect quiet until her reason had been restored would have saved her."
The heart-broken mother knelt at the foot of the bed. No mortal eye but that of the good doctor took in the sadness of that scene, where a beautiful child was sacrificed because of strong drink.
Barbara Elvin lay sick of a fever.
Her thin hands grasped the bed clothes tightly and her skin was parched and burning.
Barbara was a bright and beautiful little girl of seven summers, the only child of a poor washerwoman and very dear to her mother.
"The fever will turn tonight, I think at twelve o'clock," said Dr. Morton, as he went out of the room. "Everything depends on her being kept quiet at that time. It will be life or death."
How quiet the room was! Not a sound could be heard except the quick breathing of the delirious child and the stifled sobs of the mother.
"I do hope her father won't come in drunk," whispered Mrs. Elvin softly to herself, as she rocked to and fro, watching the sweet face of her child.
Suddenly that noiseless room was disturbed by the clock in a distant steeple striking twelve.
Footsteps were heard on the rickety stairs.
"Thank God, I hear the doctor," sighed the mother and she saw a change coming over the face of her child and the light of reason shining in the beautiful blue eyes.
The footsteps which sounded on the stairs were not those of the doctor but her husband. Oh! how sadly mistaken she had been!
As the footsteps came nearer the door Barbara sprang up in bed and grasped her mother's dress, while her eager gaze was fixed on the door.
"Father has come home drunk, mother, and he'll beat us! he'll beat us!" cried the excited child, remembering but too well how often he had done so.
When the door opened and her father staggered into the room poor Barbara screamed and sank back unconscious.
Dr. Morton, coming in half an hour later took in the whole scene at a glance. "She will never be conscious again in this world," he said softly.
"Oh! if her father could but realize that he has sent his angel-child out of the world forever. Perfect quiet until her reason had been restored would have saved her."
The heart-broken mother knelt at the foot of the bed. No mortal eye but that of the good doctor took in the sadness of that scene, where a beautiful child was sacrificed because of strong drink.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Temperance
Death Mortality
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Temperance Tale
Alcoholism Tragedy
Child Death
Family Abuse
Moral Story
Strong Drink
Fever Crisis
Literary Details
Title
The Sacrifice Of Barbara
Subject
The Sacrifice Of A Child Because Of Strong Drink
Key Lines
"The Fever Will Turn Tonight, I Think At Twelve O'clock," Said Dr. Morton, As He Went Out Of The Room. "Everything Depends On Her Being Kept Quiet At That Time. It Will Be Life Or Death."
"Father Has Come Home Drunk, Mother, And He'll Beat Us! He'll Beat Us!" Cried The Excited Child, Remembering But Too Well How Often He Had Done So.
When The Door Opened And Her Father Staggered Into The Room Poor Barbara Screamed And Sank Back Unconscious.
"Oh! If Her Father Could But Realize That He Has Sent His Angel Child Out Of The World Forever. Perfect Quiet Until Her Reason Had Been Restored Would Have Saved Her."
Where A Beautiful Child Was Sacrificed Because Of Strong Drink.