She held her chocolated new-born, half laughing, half crying. Cocoa, and water soaked into her flower print dress.

"Horace, you grabbed the wrong tin from the pantry shelf. That wasn't mustard powder."

The only known cure for seizures in Manitou, in 1915. Dip the baby in tepid water, with a sprinkle of mustard powder. This 'cure' Anna used on Melvin everyday since he was born. To little avail. Now only six days old, she feared he wouldn't live. Yesterday, Old Doc. Hamilton had informed them, "Nothing more can be done for him."

"Horace help me change this water." She said as she finished wiping off the baby and wrapping him in a blanket.

Anna would have lost all faith if she hadn't had Horace. He was her dear healthy little six-year-old. He didn't really understand what was going on, but he was such a help to her.

She smiled as she watched Horace struggle with the dish pan. What a good child. She checked the hot water reservoir in the stove. Lots of water. Good.

"Now rinse it out into the slop pail...Horace! Hurry. Melvin's having another convulsion. Put some water in from the water pail." She said dipping out some hot water holding her shaking baby with the other hand.

She stripped him again and put him in. The seizure passed. Anna sighed. Fourteen today. Oh, God help him. She looked at her other son. Maybe he knew more than she thought.

"Thank you, Horace. Bring me a towel and a dry blanket. You're a good boy." He handed her the towel and blanket.

"Is Reverend Davidson going to be here soon, Mama?"

"Yes. Your father should be back with him any minute now."

Her wonderful husband George. He was always there. She remembered the day they met like it was just yesterday. At church, he with his black bible and English accent. She grew to love and depend on him more than anyone else in the world, except God, of course.

Anna had grown up in a poor Catholic Family with eight siblings until she was fourteen. Her parents didn't have much money to spare so she went to live with a nearby family who kept a boarding house. They were a Methodist family, and she lived there with them in exchange for her help around the house.

Now she and George attended the methodist church too, but in there heart Anna was still a Catholic. She wanted little Melvin baptized before he died to assure a place for him in heaven. She had asked George and he had agreed to it. So he was gone to get the reverend.

Anna sat in her old comfortable rocking chair, holding Melvin in her arms, hoping that he wouldn't die before the reverend arrived. Soon, she heard a shuffling out in the hall. She rose to greet the reverend as he came in.

"I thank God that you came to get me. You know I'll do whatever I can for this little fellow."

"Well, I suppose you need some water," George began. "I'll go..."

"Oh, no need for that. I'll just use this water." He said referring to the water they dipped the baby in. The reverend held out his arms and took the baby.

Anna stood between George and Horace. She held their hands tightly. Please, Lord, don't let him die, she prayed silently. I know father if you will it, Melvin will be all right. As the reverend dipped his fingers into the water, she reached out and took George's and Horace's hands.

"I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," he said as he touched Melvin's forehead three times with his wet finger tips.

Melvin didn't have anymore convulsions that night...or ever again. When they were all sure that little Melvin was going to be fine, Horace earnestly declared, "See, Mama, all it took was a little more water!"

- by Celesta Thiessen, © 1993