Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

A poor woman who lives in Water street, Philadelphia, was awakened in the course of the night by the faint cry of her infant; but supposing it to be merely the fretfulness of infancy, and wearied with the fatigues of the day, she fell asleep, but again awakened, when getting up and obtaining a light, she beheld a most frightful sight-her child bathed in blood, surrounded by a number of large rats, who were greedily devouring the infant’s flesh. Its face and limbs were horribly mangled, and though amputation of the arm is necessary, the life of the little sufferer may be saved.