Southern shield., 1853-07-09

ing frame were racked, and let loose the strong muscles, till they played ter rible antics before the powerless physi- elan. One often thought of Lacoon, but looked in vain for the Serpent.
 One evening, at five o'clock, or there abouts, 1 had thrown myself, exhausted, from my horse into my office chair, af- ter vist 10 my little deaf mutes in the Asylum, and was indulgiDg in my fla vorlte luxury, cup of green tea, which l preferred taking away from my fami- ly, for the simple reason that no man whose heart was in his profession cou d take time to make himself an acceptable guest at tic fable with such fearful music still ringing in his ears; few of us indeed paid needful attention to our own personal comfort. Whatever be our quarrels, 10 our credit as body be il said, we shrink not when the seals that close the pestilence are removed, and poor demand our aid. l was hastily slipping my tea, when my poor young friend, with his feeble body and sicklv laugh, thrust his head into the office door, and carelessly asked how the chol- era came on; remarking, with the usual fllppancy of the thoughtless, he suppo- sed that we were mot particularly de- slrlous of its disappearance" Poor man! his remark grated upon my ears. for l knew the condition of his delicate wife, and that their chances would be at zero from the fr-t they should be attack ed. Something about his face. that every experienced medical eye could at once detect, and all will remember, told me the ferd was at work within him. l arose, and asking him to be seated, and take some tea, questioned him little, and intended 10 advise a remedy. He soon detected my fears. and ierringly desired me not to be ''looking so sharp ly for business"
 Poor man. such business was not de. slrable; our fees were mostly paid ill tears. l made my evening visits, and on my return found message from his wife requesting my immediate presence, as her husband had "been attacked an hour before." Not one hour could have elapsed since my conversation with him. Why prolong the tale! Every thing was done that three of us could suggest; one or the other of us was with him till midnight, when he died; his poor wife closing his eyes herself, as fearless and almost as corpse-like as the cold form before her. Anticipating trouble from her evident ieebleness, I asked her con- dltlon. She replied calmly, and with that extreme seltpossession only 10 be accounted for hen inc soul, subdued by sorrow and triumphing over apprehen- sion, looks for death as a boon from Heaven, "she was perfectly well, and as soon as we had accomplished the last sad offices, would then try and get some rest"
 The next day on my return from the cemetery, where few of the neighbors had conveyed him, called in to see the widow, and found her already past the stage of that frightful disease. She had informed no one, and evidently wished to die. Oh! how expressive was her sad smile when again questioned her. Again l summoned my brethren: again we went through the hopeless routine. Scarcely groan escaped her, her only seeming anxiety being the trouble she gave us. Poor child of sorrow! her young dream of life was indeed early cIouded. Before midnight she also found rest in Heaven.
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 How HAVE THE MIGHTY FALLEN Who would have believed that Virgin ia democrats would scout the authority of Thomas Ritchie-of Ritchie, who has, for half century, led the demo- cratic hosts of the Old Dominion, and ruled them with tyrannous grasp And yet they are doing so, if we may judge their determination from the fol- lowing resolution; which was unani- mously adopted by democratic meet ing recently held at Norfolk:
 ReSOl0cd, That Father Ritchie will confer a favor on the Democracy of Norfolk, in future if he will mind his own business and let OUTS alone. We have given him no authority to speak for us, and cannot permit him to grat- lfy his private feelings at the expense of party he has so little contributed to sustain and enlarge.
 "How have the mighty fallen"
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 Es55 A couple of young gentlemen in the city of Cincinnati, seeking for objects to gratify their curiosity, stroll ed, one evening, to the Museum. Hav- ing viewed the specimens arranged in the different rooms, they seated them selves and entered into conversation. a bell rang, and the manager called out, "Please walk up stairs to the internal regions.'' "Ah,'' said one of the friends, "that's new idea. always thought that the internal re- gions were below.' "Why," replied ,he other, "the reason for that is very plain-the deUil haS the ascendency in this city," a
 
 UT The cholera is prevailing. to some extent, at Alexandria. D. c. There is an unusual sickness in that city.