Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-12-10
MxscEEEANT z.
From the Portland Courier.
THE HYPOCaoNDaIAC.
a SCENE raoM LfFE.

M
a SCENE from LfsE.
An honest Jonathan, not a hundred
miles from Portland, was blest with a wife
who took il INTO her head TO fancy from
time 10 time, that she was any thing and
everything rather than The identical wife
Of the said Jonathan. This slate or things
continued from year TO year, and she be
gan 10 fancy al last that she was dead or
dying Many and many was the time
our good Jonathan was summoned from
The field to witness the last sigh OF his dy-
ling wife. But still she didn't die. He
always took these things very moderately
carefully putting up whatever farming
utensils he might be using. and walking
deliberately aud slowly TO her bed side and
listening patiently to whatever she might
say. solemnly promising 10 obey all her
requests and fulfil her desires 10 the let
ter. He firmly believed his wife was 10
some way or other bewitched, how he
could not tell, and the idea OF a cure new.
err entered his brain. He thought il like
y she must die some time or other, and
further he never troubled himself This
inscnsibility was FAR from being agreeable
to bis sensitive wife, who often rated him
souhdly upon his stupidity, her own anger
for tse time effecting d cure. AT length
the poor woman came 10 the solemn coByic-
ton that her time was indeed come. She
put her house in order. The bonnets OF the
children were trimmed with black. Her
husbands Sunday hat was brought for
ward and ornamented with a broad and
solemn weed. Her own clothing was all
deposited in The chest Of draws, and lock
Cd MP, the key to be left IN her pocket
The yarn of a web Of full CLOTH was OF
ticred 20 be sent over 10 J ane Stiles. who
would prepare it for the mill when It
wa. afterwards 10 lie cut into coniforta-
bic garments for the family the coming
winter. The good woman superintendent
every thing with The greatest eomposure
and solemEiiy. When every thing was
prepared. she adjusted her hair. and with
"A tear in her eye, composed herself IN
bed giving cIteciinns for her husband x
children. and The wofkmen TO be summon
cd around her. This done, she addressed
each separately, giving them appropriate
advice, aud then dismissed them, that she
might in secret give her parting Injunction
w tCf We w z Z ~ ulOttt, EtlC (dl
led 10 his memory her WI many acts Of
eonjigal tenderness, spoke Of her children
as a mother IN like circumstances mightbe
supposed TO speak, and finally distantly
and delicately hintcd, thai it was very
probabie another woeld at sometime be
called 10 occupy her place ny his side, and
stand ia a similar relation 10 Ter rhiidien.
Her tears fell fast. Oar Jonathsn's face
was drawn 10 a becoming length for the
occasion, but lie never thought Of CRYING
Indeed il was doubtful whether he com
pretended her. His imperturability was
most provoking. She WAS compelled to
be more explicit. She pressed her fingers
upon her eyes. When am gone,' she
said family : have you thought Of any one
to be your second wife p This was a
plain question, aud @ith the utmost sim.
piiciiy he gave it a plain answer. Yes
my dear, ! have She wiped her tears -
fer a d, ing woman her face was certainly
very expressive. She held her breath
TEL me, she said, who is TO be the mo-
ther Of my children p Well, my dear,
have often thought il you should die,
Hannah j. would make an excellent wife,
: You have, indeed!' exclaimed the dy-
iog woman bouncing out Of bed Han
nah j. shall never be the mother of my
children can tell you.' Our Jonathan
started. A cure was certainly the very
last thing in his mind when be made The
confession. This was many years ago
but she has never since imagined herself
any other than the living, and alive like
10 be, wife Of Jonathan.