From the Chastain Scrapbook

A Sad Bereavement

The sad death of little Orr, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Layton has sent a pang of sorrow to the hearts of the entire community. Dr. Layton, wife and child had been out buggy riding and immediately after arriving at his office, the doctor was summoned away. Mrs. Layton with the child stopped a the office and while the mother was not he least appraised of her darling boy meeting with any misfortune, she sat him on the floor to play, while she was standing in the front door the little fellow went in the back room and reaching a bottle of sulphuric acid, put it to its mouth and swallowed a draught of the poison. As soon as she was aware of the misfortune, the mother ran with her child to the drugstore, where several of our best physicians did all in their power to relieve and save the little sufferer, but all in vain. He lingered in his terrible suffering until early Monday morning when his innocent spirit took its flight to the better world. It was a sad blow to the parents, and they have the deepest sympathies of the entire community. It is not known how the bottle came where it was as it did not belong to the doctor. It is supposed that it had been carelessly left there by some one who had been using the acid. The doctor has been confined to his room since the sad death of his child and is yet in a critical condition. The following was handed us by a friend of the family:

A dark shadow has fallen upon the home of Mr. and Mrs. Layton. Their bright little Orr, their only child of 17 months, was snatched away from them so sadly and suddenly, on the morning of the 26th inst. This dear brief life, which had been like a stream of sweet sunshine in their home, has gone suddenly out. They know that their little Orr is now happy in the Paradise of God, and are trying to say, "the will of the Lord be done," but it is so hard for them. May the loving Father show them that it is all meant in love.

They wish to express their sincere thanks to the many friends who have been so kind to them in their great sorrow.

Copied by Judy Chastain
February 24, 2003