Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-19
a New way 20 cure enc Hypoehondria.

A New Way to Cure the Hypochondria
From "Way'Down East" by jack Downing.
Mr.. Woodsum was in the midst of his fall
work, which had been several times interrupted
by the periodical turns of dependency in his
wife. One morning he went TO his field early
for he had heavy days work to do, and had
engaged one of his neighbors to come with two
yoke of oxen and a plough to help him "breax
up" an old moving field. His neighbor could
only help him that day. and he was very anxious
to plough the whole field. He accordingly had
left the. children and nurse in the house, with
strict charges TO take good care of their mother.
Mr. Wooksum was driving the team and his
neighbor was holding the plough, and things went
on to their mind till about ten clock in the fore
noon, when little Harriet came running to the
field, and told her father that her mother was
dreadful sick, and wanted him to come in as
quick as he could for she was certainly dying
now. Mr.. Woodsum, without saving a word,
drove his team to the end of the furrow; but he
looked thoughtful and perplexed Although he
felt persuaded that her danger was imaginary as
1t had always proved to be before, still the idea
of the bare possibility that this sickness might be
unto death, pressed upon him with such power,
that he had laid down his goad-stick, and telling
his neghbor to let the cattle breathe awhile,
walked deliberately towards the house. Before
he had accomplished the whole distance, how
ever, his Imagination had added such wings to
u
quick run. He entered the house, and found his
wife he had SO 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 already taken her leave
of her dear children, and waited only to exchange
few parting words with her dear husband Mr..
Woodsum approached the bedside, and took her
hand tenderly as he had ever been wont to do,
but he could not perceive any symptoms of ap-
preaching dissolution, different from what he had
witnessed on former occasions.
''Now my dear" said Mrs. Woodsum, fhintly
"the time has come at last. ! feel that am only
on my death bed, and have but short time longer
to stay with you But hope we shall feel re-
signed to the will of Heaven. would cbeerfully
dear, if it was not the anxiety about you and the
children. Now don't you think, my dear" she
continued with increased tenderness, "dont ysu
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 your
home pleasant for all of you;'
She paused and looked earnestly in his face.
swell, I've sometimes thought of late, it might
be best, !" said Mr.. Woodsum, with very solemn
manner.
'sThen you have been thinking about it, said
Mrs. Woodsum, with contraction of the muscles
Of the mouth.
"Why, yes,'' said Mr.. Woodsum,'' have
sometimes thought abont it, since you have had
spells of being so very sick. 1t makes me feel
dreadful 10 think of it, but l don't know but it
might be my duty
"Well, do think it would, - said Mrs. Wood
sum, ''ifyou can only get the right sort of per-
son. Everything depends upon that, my dear,
and hope you will be very particular about who
you get, very"
81 certainly shall, said Mr. Woodsum, ''don't
give yourself any uneasness about that, my dear,
for assure you shall be very particular. The per-
son shall probably have is one of the kindest and
best tempered women in the world"
'But have you been thinking of any one in par
ticular, my dear, said Mrs. Woodsum, with a
manifest look of uneasness.
"Why, yes, - said Mr.. Woodsam, ''there is one
that | have thought of for some time past,
should probably marry, if it should be the will of
Providence to take you from US. y
''And pray, Mr.. Woodsum who can it be-"
said the wife, with expression more of earth
than heaven, returning to her eye. "Who is it,
Mr.. Woodsumi You havn't named it to her
have your"
"Oh, by no means said Mr. Woodsum; ''but,
my dear, we had better drop The subject; it agi-
tates you too much. +"
'But, Mr.. Woodsum, you must tell me who it
is; | never could die in peace till You do"
cit is subject too painful to think about,
said Mr.. Woodsum, land il don't appear to me
it would be best TO call names. "
"But | insist upon it, said Mrs. Woodsum,
who had by this time raised herself up with great
earnestncss, and was leaning on her elbow while
her searching glance reading every muscle in
her husbands face. ''Mr. Woodsum, | insist
upon it"
"Well, then, y said Mr. Woodsum, with a sigh,
elf you insist upon it, my dear, have thought
that if should be the will of Providence to take
you from us, to be here no more,. ! should marry
for my second wife, Hannah Lovejoy."
An unearthly fire once more flashed from Mrs.
Woodsums eyes-she leaped from the bed like
cat lkada fha md I'D harqa in
a chair.
"What!" she exclaimed in a trembling voice,
almost choked with agitation - &c what marry
that idle, sleepy slut of Hannah Loveioy! Mr..
Woodsum, that is too much for flesh and blood to
bear-I can't endure that, nor won't. Hannah
Lovejoy to be the mother of my children! No,
that she never shall. So you may 90 TO your
ploughing, Mr.. Woodsum, and set your heart at
rest. Susan,R she continued, '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 10 do
the honors Of the table Mrs Woodsum s health
from that day continued to improve, and she was
never afterwards visited by the terrible affection
Of hypochondria.
ToADs.-A correspondent of the Cambridge
Chronicle puts in a plea for toads, and justhes
his partiality by the following, which we extract
from his communication:
eve have in our garden a small nursury of
plum trees, which have been nearly destroyed by
the canker worms. Last season we commenced
shaking them off. One day we observed many
toads about these trees, and on our approach be-
came frightened, and retreated in great haste TO
their retreats in the neighboring bushes. Soon
finding that they were not pursued, they com
mcnced hopping back and eagerly caught with
avdity each canker-worm il descended on It's
tiny thread Nc counted n one time thirty
mediately round our feet. Day after day we feed
them with their favorite food, and they became so
tame as TO follow us, watch our hand, and take
the worm from our fingers"
LAUNCH or SHIP-or-W AR.-The United
States steam-frgate Merrimac, one of the SIX
war vessels ordered to be built by our Govern
ment, was launched Mt the Charleston Mass.)
Navy Yard on Thursday. The keel of the ship
was laid in July Of last year. She is built in the
Strongest manner, chiefly Of livc-oak timber and
plank, and there has been used in her hull 226,-
TAO pounds Of iron, and l89, 77S pounds Of bolt
copper. Her dimensions are $500 tons, carpen-
ters' measurement. She is TO be propelled on