Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-04-05

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| Mr.. Woodsum was affected He could not
bring himself to believe that his wife was in
such immediate danger of dissolution as she
seemed to apprehend. He thought she had no
appearance of dying person but still her
earnest and positive declaration that she should
not live through the day, sent thrill through
his veins, and sinking through his heart that
no language has the power to describe Mr..
Woodsum was as ignorant of medicine as a
child /: he therefore, did not attempt to do any
thing to relieve his wife, EXCEPT to soothe her
feelings by kind and encouraging words, till the
doctor arrived, The half hour which elaps
from the time Obediah left, till tho doctor came,
seemed to Mr.. Woodsum an age. He repeated
ly went from the bedside to the door, to look
and see if the doctor was anywhere near, and us
Ufcon roturnv TO irvesr sis wifo sroar. and say
she was sinking fast, and could not stand it
many minutes longer.
At length DR.. Fairfield rode up to the door,
on Mr. Woodsum's Old Gray, and with bis sad
die bags in hand, he hastencd into the house.
A brief examination of the patient convinced
him that it was case of bypochondria, and he
soon spoke encouraging words to her, and said,
though she was considerably unwell, he did not
doubt but she would be better in little while.
| ~
| Oh, Doctor how can you say so ! P" said
Mrs Woodsum; " don't you sec I am dying!
| can't possibly live till night; | am sinking
very fast. Doctor, and shall never see the sun
rise again My heart sometimes almost stops
beating now, and my hands and feet are grow
ing cold. But | must see my poor children
once more do let them come in and bid me
farewell" Here she was so overwhelmed with
sobs and tears as to prevent her saying more.
The Doctor having administered the drugs in
such case made and provided, is followed out by
MIR. Woodsum, all anxiety to learn the real dan
ger of the case lie is assured that it is only
an attack of hypochondria, and the good lady
herself ere long RECEIVERS.
: Again and again, however, is our friend Seth
summoned from his plow, and the Doctor from,
his pills. to administer consolation and relief in
her dying hour, and again and again does she
recover. We give below the story of
DEATH S LAST ASSAULT.
J At last the sober, saddening days of autumn
came on. Mr.. Woodsum was in the midst O
Z his fall work, which had been several times in
y terrupted by these periodical turns of despond
, ency in his wife. One morning he went to hi
.. field early, for he had heavy days work to do
- and had engaged one of his neighbors to com
with two yoke of oxen and pow to help hir
~ I" break up" an old moving field. His neigh
NJ Dor could only help him that day, and he wa
" very anxious to plow the whole field He a,
nt cordingly had left the ehaaren and nurse in tt
y house, with strict charges to take good care
their mother. Mr.. Woodsum was driving tb
d team and his neighbor was holding the pillow
y and things went on to their mind till about te
y o'clock in the forenoon, when little Harrie
y came running to the field, and told her fathe
tidt lltI nOlucl WAS uIcuulut blCk, uIlu WaUtG
him to come in as quick as he could, for she wa
certainly dying now. Mr.. Woodsum, withou
saying word, drove his team to the end of tn
u farrow but he looked thoughtful and perple1
~ ed. Although he felt persuaded that her dan
. ger was imaginary, as it had always proved
\ bo before, still the idea of the bare possibilit
40 that this sickness might be unto DEATH passe
= upon him with such power, that he had lai
nc down his goadstick, and telling his ncighbor
let the cattle breathe awhile, walked deliberate
nc ly towards the house. Before he had accom-
plished the whole distance, however, imagina
;" tion lad added such wings to his speed, that /
found himself moving at a quick run. He el
~ so often found her before, in her own estinli
e ton, almost ready to breathe her last HI
:, voice was faint and low, and her pillow was w
=" with tears. She had already taken her leave
her dear children, and awaited only to exchans
~ few parting words to her dear husband. NJ
" Woodsum approached the bedside, and took h'
- hand tenderly, as he had ever been wont to d.
= = but he could not perceive any symptoms of az
~ preaching dissolution different from what
"' had witnessed on former occasions.
~ "Now, my dear, said Mrs. Woodsum, fain
ID ly, I" the time has come at last. feel that
am ON my death-bed, and have but a short tin
Nj. longer to stay with you. But hope we sha
~ feel resigned to the will of Heaven. wou
go cheerfully, dear, if it was not for my ankle
L.. about you and the children. Now, don't y,
think, my DEAR" she continued with increasil
ou tenderness, don't you think it would be be
ou for you to be married again to some kind, go
woman, that would be mother to our dear !
rs tic ones, and make your home pleasant for
ing of you ?"
She puased and looked earnestly in his ia
IKE Well, I've sometimes thought, of late,
mp might be best,', said Mr.. Woodsum, with a VI
lir- solemn air.
he "T Then you've been thinking about it. $
her Mrs. Woodsum, with slight contraction
in the muscles of the face.
,me Why, yes said Mr. Woodsum, C h
sometimes thought about it, since you We
his spells Of being SO very sick 1t makes me
ngs dreadful to think of it, but don't know bu
was might be my duty"
nth "Well. do think it would" said
Woodsum, "if you can only get the rights
his Of person. Everything depends upon tt
hat my dear, and hope you will be very partior
ten about who you get, very
ess- ~ certainly shall" said Mr.. Woodsu
= I" don't give yourself any uneasiness about ii
him my dear, for assure you shall be very par