Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-11-28

AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. 1t is always
agreeable to meet with an old acquaintance,
prorided, it so happens that he has no, a small
account against you; and We confess, that We
were a few days since, well pleased, to meet
with the annexed article, in which we recog-
nize, an old friend, and one Of the produc-
tions Of our earlier days.
Ii was written, during the years of our pro-
baton, and at IA time when we were engaged,
n writing for our friend Miller, of The Manu-
facturers and Farmers Journal Ii has had a
very extensive circulation, NOT because Of its
literary merits, but because Of the singular
facts it details. Being our own, original prop
er.y, w hope we shall be excused for publish
.ng it.
farmer residing at Fields Point, near
this town, unluckily had a spouse, subject 10
splcnetic affe ctions, which frequently filed her
Uranium with odd conoests. At the time Of the
destruction of the Gaspee frigate, IN The bay
below, her husband, a man Of unbounded pa
triotism, was one of he brave fellows who fol-
owed the gallant John Brown, iii the expedl-
ton against that vessel, leaving has wife un,c-
companIed, bat by her little brood Of chubby
children. Daring the absence OF her husband,
she was visited by one of her hypoclondricai
fits, and concoiving herself TO be "A goose, de-
termlned to have a setting. Accordingly Size
built n nest in the cellar, procured a quantity
of eggs, on which she located herself, and
eyIhced all of those marks OF lrritab,ilty, DIS
ccrnable in the goUse, during the process at
setting. On the return of the husband. &c To
his astonishmcnt,, found his better half sub
scribing to the rites and ceremonies observed
by the goose at the interesting season Of incu-
baton, and preferring the company Of embryo
goslins 20 the plump and ruddy faces Of a nu-
inerous progeny. He protested in VAN against
her conduct! he solicited. persuaded, and m
! plored TO no purpose, for she replied 10 his eX-
postulations and Ell re ttes. with Il ca kle, and
the rustlmg finer pettioolts. A physician WIS
sent for, who informed the unhappy husba nd,
that the malady of his w!fe would not yield to
the most powerful nostrums. But. said he, if
she possess any article, on which she places
inestimable value, bring it TO me-, and | will un-
dertake to remove, or a, least, 20 palliate her
disorder. A china bowl, which the lady had
received Of her mo,,e at The celebration OF
the marriage nuptih's was produced, with an
assurance that Of all things on e%ari',, she val
ued that the most highly. The physician took
it went to the cellar, and ordered her 10 re
She cackled and rustIcd her petticoa,s. RISE
instantly said the doctor { OF this bowl | will
SILVER in ten thousand pioces.' She cackied
more vehcmently lie drew back his arm, and
aimed ut the stone wall. "V,!lain break il if
you dare ~ she exclaimed, and starting saw
ed from the java IF destruction, the bow
which she priced so highly, and which happily
ciTeclcd her cure"
The physician alluded to in the foregoing
extract was tie late distinguished Doctor Pr
don Bowen, and tho anecdo'e, was often re
ated bv hihn, to such of his patients, as labour-
ed under hypochoudfiacal affections, and was
not without its etfc Ct. Doctor Caldwell, m his
notes on Cullen, if We remember arigh. relates
a similar circumstance. II was tie case of Il
man, who fancled himself dead, and could MOI
be persuaded, that he was yet alive, till he
was placed in a coffin, and moved oil, toward
the grave yard, and actually let down into the
grave. The earth was about TO be thrown
| upon the coffin lid, when the hypochondriac
J very nationally concluded he was not a dead
man, and begged to be suffered to escape his
marrow prison house, which request of
course, was granted.