The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-07-06
THE TURNED HEAD.

llsh work, recently repsbshed in this country
he subject of the story, and of the hypochon
drlcal fancles which have caused this memoria
OF MN 10 appear in print, is brought before the
reader with much distinctness in the introduce
tory paragraphs Of the tale. 1t is only neces-
sary to say in addition, that he belonged
10 tnat class Of mankind whose Temperament
directs hypochondriasis to laughable modi.
! fcatien.
You could scarcely look en- N without
laughing. There was a sorry sort of humorous
expression IN his odd and ugly features, which
/ suggested TO you the idea that he was always
struggling TO repel some Joyous emotion or 9TH
er, with painful effort. There was the rich
light oil intellect in his eye, which was dark and
fuil-you tett when its glance was settled up
on you land there it remained concentrated,
al the expense OF all the other features i'm the
clumsy osseous ridge of the e.bone impehd.
ing sullenly over Als eyes-the Pitsfke nose.
looking like finger and thumb full of dough
\ grown out from the plastic mass, with two i'll.
formed holes inserted in the dubious extremity
AND MS large lIquOrsh, shapeess lips Look
ed altogether any thing but refined or intellec-
tual. He was man Of fortune-an obstinate
bachelor, and was educated at Cambridge.
where he attained considerable distinction; and
al the period of his introduction TO the reader,
was IN his thtty-eighth or fortielh year. If |
/ Wv ~ MS IL would recall to the
literary reader many excellent and some ad.
mirable portions ofliterature, for the perusal of
which he has TO thank N. The prevailing
| complexion of his mind was sombrous-but
played on, occasionally, by an arch-humorous
fancy, Ringing lis rays offun and drollery over
the dark surface, like moonb beams on the mid
night waters. do believe he considered it sinful
to smile There was a pickering I'D of one cor
her OF the mouth, and forced corruqation of
lne eYe6rows,-the expression of which was set
at naught by the conviviality-the solemn drol-
lefy OF the eyes. You saw Momus leering out
| oil every glance of them! He said MANY ,,rv
WITTY things IN conversation, and had knack
OF uttering the quaintest conceits with some.
thing like whine of conjunction in his tone
which ensured him roars of laughter. As for
his own laugh-when he did laug h-there il M
describing it-short, sudden, unexpected was
like flash of powder in the dark Not trace
of real merriment fingered on his features an
instant after the noise had ceased. You BEGAN
to doubt whether he had laughed at all, and to
look about to see where the explosion came
rom. Except on such rare occasions of forget
uness on his part, his demeanor was very calm
and quiet. He loved to get man who would
come and sit with him all the evening. SMOKING.
and slipping wine in cloudy silence He could
not endure hustle or obstreperousness and
VIXEN he did unfortunately fall foul of a son of
| noise, as soon as he had had "a sample of his
quality, he would abruptly rise and take his
| leave, saying, in querulous tone, like that of
a sick child, 'I'll gor (probably these two
words will at once recall him to the memory of
more than one of my readers)-and he was as
good as his word; for all his acquaintances-
and | among the number-knew his eccentrlci.
| ties, and excused them.
Such was the man-at least as to the more
prominent points of his character-whose chat
| tering black servant presented himself hastily
! to my notice one morning, as | was standing on
my door steps, bordering on the probabilities of
wet or fine for the day. He spoke in such a
spluttering tone oftrep!dation, that it was some
time before could conjecture what was the
matter. At length | distinguished something
| like the words, Oh Docta Docta, come.a and
SEGA Massa Come-a him gashIy-him so
| il-ve- dam bad-him say so-Oh forra- lorra.
/ lorra Come SEGA Massa-him yer orrid =
! 'Why, what on earth is the matter with you,
you sable, chi Why can't you speak slower,
and tell me plainly what's the matter ? said
inp tiently, for he seemed inclined TO gable on
in that strain for some minutes longer. What s
| the matter with your master, sirrah, inquired,
jerking his striped morning jacket.
Oh, Docta! Docta Cam-a-Massa dam
bad Him say SOL Him head turned Him
head turned
II i'm ,ohat sirrah ? said I, in amazement.
Him head turned, Docta-him head turned,
replied the man, slapping his fingers against his
forehead.
! ooh, see how it is, see ah, yes, replied
pointing to my forehead in turn, wishing him
to see that understood him to say his master
| has been seized with fit of insanity.
'Iss, iss Docta-him Massa head turned, him
head turned =
'Ah he's gone mad, you mean, eh-is that
it? Hem Maids it SOP said. l. pointing
with a wink TO my forehead. No, no, doctor
him head turned him head, replied Nam
DO and raising both his hands to his head, he
seemed trying to twist it round Icould make
nothing of his gesticulations, so | dismissed
him, telling him to take word, that should
make his masters my first call may well
say, that am on terms of friendly familiarity
with Mr.. N, and puzzled myself all the way
! went, with attempting to conjecture what
( nelc CROCHET he had taken into his odd-and,
latterly, | began to suspect, halt-addled head.
He had never disclosed symptoms Of what is
generally understood by the word hypochon-
driasls; but often thought there was not a
kelier subject in the world for it. AT length
found myself knocking at my friends door.
Nambo instantly answered my summons, and,
in a twinking, conducted Inc to his master s
bedroom. It was partially darkened, but there
was light enough for me TO discern, that there
was nothing unusual in his appearance. The
bed was much tossed, to be sure, as if with the
restlessness of the recumbent, who lay ON his
back with his head turned on one side, ant
buried deep in the pillow, and his arms folded
together outside the counterpane. His fea
lures certainly wore an air of exhaustion ant
detection, and his eye settled on ME with al
alarmed expression from the moment that hi
perceived my entrance.
'Oh, dear doctor Isn't this frightful :
Isn't it dreadful piece ofbusiness"
'Frigthful dreadful business repeated
with much surprise. THAT is frightfut? Ar
you ill-have you had ali accident, ell"
Aha you may well ask that he re
piled adding, after pause, it took place thi
morning about two hours ago.
, You speak in parallels, MIR. N! Why
what in the world is the natter with you"
About two hours ago-yes,' he mut:eret
as ie he had not heard me, Doctor, do tell m
truly now, for the curiosity of the thing, wins
did you think of me on FIRST entering the room
Q Eli? Feel inclined to laugh, or be shocked
4 : L