The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-03-06
2(FrOsl the Lady's BOOs.)
CURE OF A HYPOCHONDRIAC.
BY sEBA SMITH

VIVA N4 IA NNe"- -
u BY sEBA SMITH
As Mr. Seth WOodsum was moving
one morning in his lower hAying 6elds,
and HE eldest con, 0bediah, q smart
= boy Of thirteen, was opening the mowu
grass 10 the sun, Mr.. Woodsum looks
cd up towards Lis house, aud beheld his
little daughter Harriet, len years Of age,
runing towards him with her utmost
speed. As she came up, he perceived
she was greatly agitaledy tears were
running down her cheeks, and she had
scarcely breath enough to speak.
%, father,' she family afticulated,
!.mo.her is dreadful siek; she's on the
bed, and says she shall die before yOu
got .hete.'
Mr.. Woodsum wasa man Of sober.
sound mind, and calm nerves; but he
had, what Sometimes happens in this
,,.cold and lOvsless world Of ours, a ten-
der attachment for HE wife, which made
the massage Of the little girl fall upon
his heart like a dagger. He dropped
his scyihe, and ran with grcat haste 10
.he house; Obediah.- who was at the
other end Of the field, seeing this unu.
eual movement Of his father, dropped
his fork, and ran with oil his might, &
the two entered the house almost at the
same time.
Mr.. Woodsum hasteued 10 the bed
side, and took his wife's hands. my
dear Sally said be, what is the mat
terl' ..>
.What is the matterF echoed Mrs.
Woodsum, with plaintive groan. Il
shouldn't think you would need 10 ask
what is the matter, Nh. Woodsum.
Don't you see l am dyingl'
aWhy, no, Sally, you don't look as
. If you was dying. What is the matterl
How do you feeil'
! 'Ob. shan't live till night said Mrs
Woodsum, with heavy sigh y am
going FAST
Mr.. Woodsum, without waiting 10
make further inquiries, told Obediah
10 run and jump on to tho horse, and
ride over after Doctor Fairfield, and
90. him TO come over as quick as be
can come. Tell him am afraid your
mother 10 dying. Ifthe the doctors
horse is away of in the pasture, ask
him 10 take our horse, and come right
away over, while You 60 and catch his.'
---,ts+i( (lhadfsf,. with tears if his eyes, ant
his hear, in his mouth, few as though
hs had wings added to bis feet, and ia
three minutes time was mounted upon
Old Gray, and galloping with full speed
towards Doctor Fair6eld's.'
sMy DEAR said Mr.. Woodsum, lean
ing bis head upon the pillow, how DE-
YOU feell Wha, makes you think yos
are dyingl' And he .enderly kissed he
forehead as hs spoke, and pressed he
hand 10 his bosom.
sOh, Samuel, for she generally cal
n led him by HE Christian name whel
under the influence offender emotions
.Oh, Samuel, ! feel dreadfuiiy. ! hav'
pairs dsrting though my head, and mos
all over me; and feel dizzy, and can
hardly see; and my heart beats a
though it would come through my side
] am cure ! can't live hll night; an
what will become Of my poor chldreul
And she sbb5ed heavily, and burst int
food ofteata
Mr.: Woodsum was affected. H
could not bring himselfto believe ,ha
his wife was 10 such immediate DANCE
of dissolution as she seemed TO appre
hrnd. He though, she had no appear
snce ola dying person; but still her ear
nest and positive declarations that oh
should rot live through the day, ser
a chill through his veins and siDkin
10 his heart, which no language ba
power 10 describe. Mr.. Woodsum wa
as ignorant Of medicine as child; b
therefore did not attcmptto do any thin
TO relieve his wife, e,accept to,try TO sooth
her feelings by kind and encouragin
worde, till the Doctor arrived. Th
half hour which elapsed, from the tim
Obed,ah started till the Doctor came
seemed 10 Mr.. Woodsum almost a
age. He repeatedly went from the bed
side to the door, 10 lock and see if tn
Doctor was any whore near, and as ol
ten returned to hear his wife groan, an
say she was sinking fast, aOd could nc
stand il many minutes longer, &C.,
AT length Doctor Fairfield rode uv
the door, on Mr.. Woodsum's Old Gra
and with saddlebags in hand, 6astene
into the house. A brief examination
the patent convinced him that it was
decided case OF hypochOndria. and h
soon spoke encouraging words to he
and told her although she was consit
crably unwell, be did not doubt sl