The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-03-06


10 the family to be mother TO our poor
children, aud to make your home happy.
Promise me that you will do this.and
think il will relieve me Of solhe Of the
distress | feel at the though, Of DYING
THIS remark was to MI. Woodsum,
most unexpected and most painful. III
throw an anguish into his hearh such
as he had never experienced till that
moment. II forced upon his eontern-
plaiion q thought that had never before
occurred to him. The idea Of being
bereaved ofthe wife Of his bosom, whom
no had loved aud cherished for fifteen
years with the ardent attachment Of a
fond husband, had overwhelmed him
with all tho bitterness of woe; bot the
thought Of transferring the attachment
to another object, brought with II dou>
be desola,ion. His associations before
had all clothed his leve for his wife with
feeling Of immortality. She might be
removed from him TO another world, but
he had no, felt as though that would
dissolve the holy bond that united them.
His love would still follow her to those
eternal realms ofbliss, and rest upon her
like mantle for ever. But this new
and and startling idea, oflOve for an
other, came on him, ae comes 10 the
wicked the idea Of annihilatiOn Of the
soul-an idea, compared with which, no
degree of misery imaginable. is half so
terrible. A cloud Of intense darkness
seemed for q moment 10 overshadow
him, his heart aank within him, and his
whole frame trembled with agitation.
| !, was some minutes before he could
find power 10 speak. And when he did,
it was only TO beseech his wife, in a
calm and solemn tone, not to allude to
60 distressing a subjec, again, subject
| which be could not speak Of, nor think
Of. without suffering more than thou-
sand deaihs.
The strong mental anguish Of Mr..
Woodsum seemed 10 have the effect to
divert his wife's attention from her own
sufierings, and by turning ber emotions
into new channel, gave her system an
opportunity to rally. She gradually
grew better as she had done 10 like ca
SOS before and even before night was
able 10 sit up, and became quite COM
posed and cheerful.
/ But her ma'ady was only suspended
| no, cured, and again and again it,
turned upon her, and again and sgail
lher friende were summoned to witnesI
her last sickness and take their las
farewell. And on these occasions, shs
had 30 often slightly and delicately hin,
ted to Mr.. Woodsum the propriety o
his marrying second wife, that ever
| he could at last listen to the suggestion
with degree ofindifierence which b.
had once thought he could never feel.
Il At last, the sober suddeDing days 0
autumn came on. Mr.. Woodsum wal
in the midst Of his fall work. whicl
had been several times interrupted b.
these periodical turns Of despondenc,
, in his vito. One morning he went Ii
his field early. for he had heavy day.
work to do, aud had engaged one o
his neighbors to come wi!htwo yok
If oxen and plough to help him 'brea
, ap' an old moving field. He was ex
, reedingly desirous not to be interrup
. ted, for his neighbor could only hel
him that day, and he was very anaiou
10 plough the whole field. He accor
/ dinghy had left the children and nurse i
. the house, with strict charges to tax,
!, | good care Of their mother, and see thu
nothing disturbed her through the da,
sl Mr.. Woodsum was driving the tear
, and his ne,ghbor was holding the ploug
/ and ,hings went on 10 their mind TIL a
\ bout ten O'Clock, in the forenoon, whe
> little Harriet came running to the felc
: and told her father that her mother wa
, dreadful sick and wanted him 10 com
| in as quick as be could, for she wa
Q ! certainly dying now. Mr.. Woodsun
without saying word, drove his teal
, Ito the end Of the furrow; but he locke
y thoughtful and perplexed. Although b
0 fel, persuaded that her danger was i'm
. aginary, as it had always proved to b
before, still, the idea Of the bare pos
d sibility that the sickness might be uni
: death, pressed upon him with such pow
y or, that he laid down bis goad s,icl
. and telling his neighbOr 10 let The ca
: lie breathe awhile, walked deliberatel
i towards the house. Before he had al
y complished the whole distance, howe
j. or, his own imagination had added su'
|, wings to HE speed, that he found hin
9 selfmoviug at quick run. He entert
n the house, and found his wife as he hi
90 often found her before, in her ov
: esumation, almost ready to breathe,he
it last. Her voice was faint and low. al