The Van Buren press., 1875-05-04
MISCELLANY. Y.
Cure of a Hypochondriac
BY SEBA SMITH.

AS Mr.. Seth WoOdsum was moving one
morning in his lower haying fields, and
his eldest son Obadiah, a smart boy Of
thirteen, was opening the mown grass to
the sun, Mr.. Woodsum looked up toward
his house, and behell his little daughter,
Harriet. ten years of age, running to-
wards him. with her utmost speed.
AS she came up, he perceived she was
greatly agitated; tears were running
down her checks, and she had scarcely
breath enough to speak
'Oh, father she family articulated
mother is dreadful sick she's on the
bed, and says she'll die before you get
there
Mr. Woodsum was a man OF sober,
sound mind and calm nerves, buthe had,
what sometimes happens in this cold and
loveless world of ours, tender attach
meat for his wife, which made the mes.
sage of the little girl fall upon his heart
like dagger. He dropped his scythe
and ran with great haste to the house
Obadiah, who was at the other end OF
the field, seeing this unusual movement
Of his father, dropped bis fork, and ran
with all his might, and the two entered
the house almost at the same time.
Mr.. Woodsum FASTENED to the bedside
My dear Sally said he, what is the
matterY
What is the matter| echoed Mrs
Woodsum, with a plaintive groan. .
shouldn't think you would need to ask
what is the matter, Mr. Woodsum. Dom
yon see I'm dyingT
Why, no, Sally, you don't look as i
you was dying. What is the matter
How do you feel ?
'Oh, shan't live till night, said Mrs
Woodsum, with heavy sigh; I'm go
ing fast
Mr.. Woodsum, without waiting to
make further inquiries, told Obadiah tc
run and jump on the horse, and ride ovei
after DR.. Fairfield, and get him to come
overas quick as he could could come.
Tell him I'm afraid your mother is
dying If the doctors horse is away of
in the pasture, ask him to take our horse
and come right over while you 60 ant
catch his
Obadiah, with tears in his eyes, and his
heart in his mouth, flew as though he had
wings added to his feet, and three min
utes time was mounted upon old Gray
and galloping with full speed towards
DR.. Fairfield's.
MY dear, said Mr. Woodsum, lean
ing his head upon the pillow, how dc
you feel? What makes you think you
are dyingT And he tcnderly kissed hcl
her forehead as he spoke, and pressed
her hand to his bosom.
'Oh, Samuel = for she generally called
him by his Christian name, when under
the influence Of tender emotions, 'Oh
Samuel, | feel dreadfully. | have pains
dartng through my head, and most al
over me; and l feel dizzy, and can
hardly see, and my heart beats as thougl
it would come through my side. And
besides, feel as though was dying
am sure can't live till night, and wha
will become Of my poor children !? ant
she sobbed heavily, and burst into aood
of tears
Mr. Woodsum was affected lie could
not bring himself to believe that his wife
was in such immediate danger of disso-
luton rs she seemed to apprehend He
thought she had no appearance of a dy
ing person but still her earnest and pos
tive declaration that she could not live
through, the day, sent chill through his
veins, and sinking to his heart, which
no language has power to describe.
Mr. Woodsum was as ignorant of med
icinc as a child he did not, therefore,
attempt to do anything to relieve his wife
except to try to soothe her. feelings by
kind and encouraging words till the doc.
tor arrived.
The half hour which elapsed from the
time Obadiah started, till the doctor
came, seemed to Mr.. Woodsum almost
an age. lie repeatedly went from the
bedside to the door to look out and see il
the doctor was anywhere near, and as of
ten returned to hear his wife groan, and
say she was sinking fast, and could not
stand il many minutes longer
At length Dr. Fairfield rode up to the
door on Mr.. Woodsum's Old Gray, and
with saddle bags in hand, FASTENED into
the house. A brief examination of the
patient convinced him that it was deci
ded case of hypochondria, and he soon
spoke encouraging words to her, and told
her although she was considerably unwel
he did not donbt she would be better il
a short time,
'Oh, doctor, how can you say so ? sale
Mrs. Woodsum; don't you see I'm dy
ing; can't possibly live till night, an