The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-06-28

De1ore he nad accomplished the whole
distance, however, his inauguration had
, added such wings to his speed, that be
found himself moving on a quick rum
He entered the house and found his wife
as he had often found her before, in her
own estimation almost ready to breathe
her last.
Her voice was faint and low, and her
pillow was wet with tears. She had al
ready taken her leave of her dear children
and awaited only to exchange few part
ing words with her husband. Mr.. Wood
sum approached the bed, and took her
hand tenderly, as he had ever been wont
to do, but he could not perceive any symp-
toms of approaching dissolution, different
from what he had witnessed on former
occasions.
"Now, my DEAR said Mrs. Woodsum
family, "the time has come at last, feel
that am on my dead bed, and have but
a short time to stay with you. But
hope We shall be resigned to the will of
Heaven. l would cheerfully, dear, if it
was not for my anxiety about you and the
children. Now don't you think, my DEAR"
she continued with increasing tenderness,
"dont you think it would be best for you
to be married again to some kind, good
woman, that would be mother to our
dear little ones, and make home pleasant
to all of you.
She paused and looked earnestly in his
face.
"Well, I've sometimes thought of late,
it might be BEST" replied Mr. Woodsum,
in a low voice.
''Thcn you have been thinking about
it," said Mrs. Woodsum, with contrac-
ton of the muscles about the mouth.
"Why, yes" said Mr.. Woodsum, 81
have some times thought about it, since
you have had spells of being so very sick.
1t makes me feel dreadful to think of it,
but | don't know but what it might be
my duty"
"Well, l think that it would" said
Mrs. Woodsum, "if you can only get the
right sort of person. Everything de-
pends upon that, my dear, and | hope
you will be very particular about who you
get"
81 certainly shall, said Mr.. Woodsum,
don't give yourself any uneasiness about
that, my dear, for l assure you l shall be
very particular. The person | shall prob
ably have is one Of the kindest and best
tempered women in this world"
"But have you been thinking of any
one in particular, my dear ~ said Mrs.
Woodsum, with manifest uneasiness.
"Why, yes, said Mr.. Woodsum, "there
is one | have thought of for some time
past, should probably marry, if it should
be the will of Providence to take you
from u.s."
"And pray, Mr.. Woodsum, who can it
be ?" said the wife, with an expression
moro of earth than of heaven, returning
to her eye. "Who is it, Mr.. Woodsum
You hav'n named it to her, have you I"
ooh, by no means" said Mr.. Wood
sum, "but, my dear, we had better drop
the subject, it agitates you too much"
"But' Mr.. Woodsum, you must tell me
who it Is; | never can die in peace till
you do y
at is subject too painful to think
Of" said Mr.. Woodsum, "and it don't ap-
pear to me it would be best to call names"
"But | insist upon it" said Mrs. Wood
sum, who had by this time raised herself
up with great earnestness, and was lean
ing on her elbow, while her searching
glance was reading every muscle in her
husbands face. "Mr. Woodsum insist
upon it,"
"Well, then, said Mr.. Woodsum, with
a sigh, elf you insist upon it my dear, |
have thought that if it should be the will
of Providence to take you from US, to be
here no more, | have thought | should
marry for my second wife, Hannah Love
joy"
An unearthly fire once more flashed
from Mrs. Woodsum's eyes-she leaped
from the bed like cat, walked across the
room and seated herself in chair.
"What |" she exclaimed, with a tremb-
ling voice almost choked with agitation
"what marry that idle, sleepy slut of
Hannah Loyejoy! Mr.. Woodsum, that
is too much for flesh and blood to bear
| can't endure that, nor | won't Han
nah Lovejoy to be mother Of my children!
No that she never shall. SO you may 60
to your plowiDg, Mr.. Woodsum, and set
your head at rest. "Susan,' she contin-
cd, "make up more fire under the dinner
pot"
Mr.. Woodsum went to the field and
pursued his work, and when he returned
at noon, he found dinner well prepared,
and his wife ready to do the honors of the
table. Mrs. Woodsum's s health from that
day continued to improve, and she was
never afterwards visited by the terrible
affection of hypochondria
"BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. In
the Commune of ST Hilaire de la Noaille