Southern shield., 1855-06-23
4 New Way to Cure the Hypo-
 chondria.

llorhlng ne went to HIS neld carry, IOl 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 "break 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. Mir. lWoodsum was driving the team and his neighbor was holding the plough, and things went on to their mind till ten o'clock in the forenoon, 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. Mir. Woodsum, without saying 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 it 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 neighbor to let the cattle rest awhile, walked delib- erately towards the house. Before he had accomplished the whole distance, however, his imagination had added such wings to his speed, that he found himself moving on a quick run. He entered the house, and found his wife as 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. Mir. Woodsum approached the bedstead, and took her hand tenderly, as he had ever been wont to do, but he could not perceive Iany symptoms of approaching dissolu- ton, different from what he had wit messed on former occasions.
 'Now, my dear,'' said Mrs. Wood sum, faintly, "the time has come at last. l feel that I am on my death bed, and have but a short time longer to stay with you. But I hope we shall feel resigned to the will of heaven. I would cheerfully die, if it were not for the anxiety about you and the children. Now, don't you think, my dear," she continued with increased tenderness, "don't you think 1t 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.
 "Well, I've sometimes thought of late, it might be best" said 1Ir. Woodsum, with very solemn manner.
 "Then you have been thinking about Iit?" said Mrs. Woodsum, with con- traction of the muscles of the mouth.
 "Why, yes," said Mir. Woodsum, "I have sometimes thought about it, since you have had spells of being so very sick. It makes me feel dreadful to think of it, but I don't know but it might be my duty.'
 "Well, I don't think but it would" said Mrs. Woodsum, Eff you can only get the right sort of a person. Every thing depends up that, my dear, and I hope you will be very particular about who you get, very.''
 "f certainly shall," said Mir. Wood sum; "don't give yourself any uneasi- ness about that, my dear, for I assure you shall be very particular. The person I shall probably have is one of the kindest and best tempered women in the world.''
 "Have you been thinking of any one in particular, my dear?" said Mrs. IWoodsum, with manifest look of un- Ieasiness.
 "Why, yes," said Mir. Woodsum; "there is one that I have thought of for some past 1 should probably marry, if 1t should be the will of Providence to take you from us."
 "And pray. MT. Woodsum, who can lit be?'' said the wife, with an expers- sion more of earth that of heaven, re- turning to her eye. "Who IS it, MT. Woodsum? You hayn't named it to her, have you?'
 "Oh, by no means" said Mir. Wood sum; "but, my dear, we had better drop the subject; it agitates you too much"
 "But, MT. Woodsum, you must tell me who it is; 1 never could die in peace till you do."
 "It is subject too painful to think about" said Mir. Woodsum, "and it don't appear to me 1t would be best to call names."
 "But I insist upon it," said Mrs. Woodsum, who had by this time raised herself up with great earnestness, and | was leanino on bnr a1hov wbiIa bor