Snakebite

“Daddy, I don’t feel so good,” 5-year-old Bunter said, coming to where his father stood fixing the split-rail fence. Daniel turned around. His child’s eyes glazed over, swaying on his feet. He caught him as the little boy fell. Scooping him up in his arms, he ran across the field. Seeing him coming, Rebecka opened the front door. Her mind went back to last summer. Their little girl, Sally, had been helping make fresh bread in the kitchen when she collapsed. By the time Doc Pickart arrived, she was gone. They buried their little girl in the graveyard behind the church. The young couple doted on the only child they had left.

He carried the little boy through the house to the boy's bedroom. Rebecka shook so badly she could barely turn down the quilt. She tried to steady her voice. Tears formed in her eyes and ran down her cheeks. “Wh…what happened?” She stripped off his outer garments.

“He said he didn’t feel good, then just collapsed.” 

Rebecka trembled, feeling his forehead. “He’s…he’s burning up with fever.” Tears came to her eyes. Daniel headed for the door.

“I’ll ride for Doc.” He turned away.

“Hurry, please.” She said, her eyes filling with tears. In her mind, she saw her daughter lying in bed and the doctor arriving too late. He ran to the barn.

Daniel paused in his task of saddling the mare. “Oh, Lord, please don’t take my little boy. Please.”
He finished with the bit and bridle. He left the homestead at a fast gallop. Watching him go, Rebecka cried. Her tears fell on the quilt her mother had made for the little boy before he was born. She ran to the well, pumping cold water into a basin. Back at her child’s bedside, she sang. “Jesus…loves me …this I know…for The Bible tells me..so.” Smoothing his hair, she bathed his forehead. It was then she saw a bite mark and swelling on the thumb of his left hand. She knew immediately that the child had been snake-bitten. Running to the kitchen, she grabbed a butcher knife and the chamber pot. Sitting next to the little boy on the bed, she cut an X on his thumb. Knowing every second counted, she sucked the poison from her child’s body. Rinsing her mouth each time, feeling the bitter taste of blood and poison. Spitting each mouthful into the chamber pot.

After 5 mouths full, the swelling went down in the boy’s hand. She heard a commotion in the yard. Then doc Pickart was there. Rebecka moved aside. Doc listened to the little boy’s heart. Bunter opened his eyes. “I sorry. Snaky bitled me.” The little boy said groggily.
“Good thing your mommy knew what to do.” The elderly physician said, smiling and glancing at the nervous woman. Danial smiled and sat in the rocking chair. “Is…is he going …to be alright?” He said his eyes were moist.

“Yes. I’m going to give both of you a shot to counteract the poison.” He said, digging into his bag. “And no more playing with snakes, young man.” Bunter smiled a sleepy smile. Rebecka felt a great weight lift off her shoulders. Bunter grew into a healthy man and never played with snakes again.