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HOLLOW AY EROS., PRINTERS, 69 GRANVILLE ST., 189L 1; 7. ,/,eUndfri^'^''^'"'^'"'''"''^"^ The Singing Shild, Iced' I It was not long after the death of that most virtuous prince, King Charles the Second, and in the reign of our late sovereign lord, King James, that I, Thomas Treadwell, clerk in Holy Oi-ders, was presented by my Lord of Essex to the living of Elmtoft, being larger and wealthier than the parish of Queen's Lynn, the which for near ten years I had been liolding. And truly, I was grieved to part with the good people among whom I had dwelt so long, and from whom I had received no small kindness. Indeed, I doubted if I could have found it in my heart to leave them, had it not been that my faithful friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Long, brought me tidings that the good people of Queen's Lynn had already resigned themselves (not without inward affliction) to my departure, and had fixed on a godly young man from Beccles to be their minister. Thereupon, I wrc 'ay Lord of Essex, accepting his good offer; and with many tea-s (the which on their part my parishioners restrained, though, I doubt not, with great difficulty,) I bade farewell to those who for so many years had borne with me in patience. Scarcely, however, were we settled in our new vicarage at Elmtoft than my wife took occasion to fall sick and die, being Elizabeth, daughter of that worthy yeoman, Master William. Curtis, of Brixton. She had been a godly woman, and, though of a family much inferior to mine, had brought me five hundred pounds at marriage, the same with which I restored the tower of our parish church at Queen's Lynn when it was near falling into ruin. The death of this excellent creature was to me a cause of great inconvenience and vexation, I heing hut new come among a strange people, and scarce knowing where to look for asHiHt- ance in my liou.sehold cares, and the up-bringing of my seveh years' son. For she had lu-en a wife vii-tuous ahove the average; though at times a hit slirewish with lier tongue, and likely to' make me trouble among my people, the which, however, 1 was fam to pardon, she being but a female. Always too, did I have it in mind to break her of these unruly habits, but before I could accomplish it she died. Nevertheless ,lid 1 mourn her loss l>y the wearing of doleful apparel, and with no small sighing I laid her to rest in our family burying place at Sti-atton Audley, beside my honoured father awd Mistress Treadwell, my dear and honoured mother, being J)orothy, third daughter of Sir John Ringwood, Baronet, of Ringwood, a worthy man. who loss all in the cause of our late sainted Kinir. Standing by this gooil woman's open grave, I held the hand of my little son, who wept both loud and sore, making at this time his first acquaintance with death. All my care at the moment was to soothe and cond'ort him, for he was to me like the very sun in heaven for brightness. Even now, with his face all bestreamed with crying and not a little dirty, he was beauti- ful beyond compare. His form was slight, tall for his years, but nobly proportioned, taking after me. He had likewi.se that round, frank, fearless face with which our family hath been always blessed; and the large blue eyes, and handsome head of brown closp-lying curls, for which I in my youth had always been admired. He had in him nothing of his mother, but a slight irregularity of curve in both his eye-brews, the which, as I truly think, was his only blemish. Having filled in the grave and said our final prayer, we set out for London, the boy Charles (fcr I had named him after the best of kings, our pious martyr) ceasing to weep at sight of the many curious objects along the highway. At London we lay that night ; and the next day did I take my son, to distract him from his grief, to view the wonders of that great city. We walked in the Mulberry Gardens, where we saw assembled persons of the highest quality, both wits and ladies, all arrayed in the newest fashions out of France Tlum we went to view the sa't thou Wh '"• ' 'I'Kl tlUUrlit >^<> (fi»(/ui,-ted tmt/i ^';i'^'"^^"^"y'^-'^''-^.a..^ 'I in nn'J why •"y soil to Hin^r put IhytriiMtin CuhI. -..1.1 .1.. full :„.,„.,;, »-,:.;';« '"; -.-y "..-..«, ti„. ,vi„„,.,,„ I."'! sunk „„ct. „„„e into ,jl ' " \ '"'" , "'">• '""I 'I'""', wi'l all "■^,';'f' '-y «• ..,:,n,:;:,f .::"r '■"" ^"•■" "-. "«..-., »^..v|;»i.h...iii.,-v:,,,;,l,:;; :;.,;;; Z 7 "■""', "' '"«'• "..r-.t: l.ut tlu.y 2X ''""""•""••."■" l;«'■. '■"' -....i..-od the wrvice wu» at „„ ,.„,: The. I.'; '^^ '^"*"*"" "*' n,e that hoy ca,t,u^, ,„„,,^ ,„„;,^,,, ' ;>^ th. «.«. Church. tl,„ t" hini like heaven. * '" """ Pl."=e. which seenje,! Oibhon.s' lovely anthen T \^ ^ ' j\:^''';f ''^•'' -' of Master yHts we had .seen th, t C but T ', ,^""'"' ""'' *^'^' '^^''^'^ thoughts the painful ei..eunI;.e1n\:S T '"" '''"' '"^ knowin^r that u,y situation n.i.rhrf '''''' P"ice,l, well- take another wffe. For , f ^ "T "'^'' " ''" ^"^ '''^^' -'^»' *« househoI,l.andalsol>rin^.upthisTu]H.' T''''' ''''' ^^^ ^ l^nen, food, and other trivial tli^.' T-T '^ ^"^'' '" '''^' '""**-• "*' is able to de.scen,l i And wht T " 1^'f . ' '"""'^ """'' '^'-- had been at in the wooin! j "f "' ''" '""'^ '^"^^ trouble I n^ore. riding over to BHx\ „ 1^, f '^ ""'""' "'" ^'^ ""- "^ as putting n^yself to n^'eh "etdl tfeir",;" ^'!^' ^-'^^- - -ell gifts (according to the rules in mZ '^ '"^'^ "> ^he n.atter of ^^^'^-^.. the /hieh I fot;:^,S:;ui:tr'"''""''^'^^^^^^^ •7 P-l^^t -ery time I rode ov r to Bri ^ "' T'' ^' '^ ^^ ;ts precepts to n.en.ory on the wal'-^h ll "' "1 "'?"'*^'"^ tears rose to n.y eyes to think I mus lo tl •^"^; ^ .''^^^"^'^ ^his. must go tlirough it all again, at a time when I slumM he onleriuK atlairs in n.y new abode, and thinking of niatteiH more important. The next day w set ot.t for Khntoft, I ri.linjr mine <.wn (|Uiet, crivv horse, and' h<.ldinK th.. hul before me. It was a peacetul autumn r. an.l having arnve.l witlun a short .listanc fr..m ..nr lu.me, I ha.l cease.l t.. ri.le with eircun.specti.m, an.l venturing (close t.. a w..o.l called Abb..fs Oak.) too near the hedge, a pair of In^^hwaynu-n HU.hle.dy rushe.l .>ut at me, .me of whon. caught n>y ast.mishe.l horse by the hn.lle. wlnle the other i.ointe.l a murd.'r.ms looking pist..l at my person My first tlum-ht was for my b.)y whou» 1 shieMe.l as best I coul.l : thou^d, he, in.lee.1, showe.l no si^ns of fear, being blest with that hi.d» courage for which our fandly hath ever been remarkable ; for my°gran.lfather had serve.l in the Low Country wars, and had with the assistanc ..f another brave Kuglishman, slam a Spaniar.1 in a battle. Calling this ancestral valour t.> ^^^Y ^'[\^ as an.l golden hair, and an expression of winning innocence, most unlike hi.s colleague, who was short an.l dark, and of a herce and dogdike countenance. " Good gentlemen," I said, " you do not well to stop upon the Kin-'.s highway an honest wayfarer like myself, being no other than a humble parish priest, likewise a wi.lower, and returning even now from the sad obse.iuies of an excellent creature lately deceased, whom I have laid to rest in our family vault at btratton Au.lley, beside my honoure.l father and my dear and^ honoured mother, being Dorothy, third daughter of Sir John—" " Excellent sir," exclaimed the younger villain, " we have not fnquired concerninir thm« journey, u ;, f f ancestry, nor of f h. wore ado." ^ """ >"<"■ ml' deliver them 7 '"'""}' °'- "Ttown,I„„t..j ''^ '<-- without St .iVr-"^' "° ■"-"■'- St?""'"^ "- ^"' «ve Lon,f„f ""L*^' ',«» • -"' 'Vhich I„,„ ;«^",';f by....el„tive ,.„t ^ieie We were inii j i P^'ently I ;* r T'^'" <"■' "f the thchefo .."""' ™"'» "P^«H then,, : , ,;Z:i'*-. -eept tLl UTi'-n'f l'^ »<) other .sueh,ike';.:,t b r^ ^l '^^.'^'-'-. S^:^ Be iaT 1 «'« they proceeded to rifle 9 my pockets, and my wallet, one of them also tearing the onyx ring from my finger, t'lough I reminded him that my family coat of arms would one day betray him and bi-ing him to the gallows. But I spoke to no purpose; for they robbed me even of the tress of my dear wife's hair, the which I valued high as a charm against warts ; being informed by a good wife of my acquaintance, that kept in a place of safety and tied with a green ribbon, it would surely answer that purpose. Having despoiled me of all I had upon me, th(iy proceeded to quarrel as to the distribution of their booty, each one despising the intaglios, which were most precious and endeavouring to gain possession of the money, using mean- while most dreadful oaths, at which I could not but shudder. All this time my little boy looked on in great astonishment, not understanding the proceeding" nor why his father should be so shamefully entreated. Indetv. .ic had at first made furious attempts to prevent their violence as they bound me to the tree, rushing at them with all his little might and not ceasing till one of them (a bloodthirsty monster) seized him in his arms, and threw him, as one might throw a dog, some twenty feet away. Now, however, seeing me abandoned, and the robbers retired to a distance, he came to my side once more, looking up into my eyes with such an expression of bitter misery as I had never before seen in a young child's face, and before which I was fain to close my eyes that I might not look upon his gyief. Presently there came a trembling of his lip, and then with a very loud heart- breaking cry, he rushed to me, burying his face between my knees, and sobbing in such a manner that his whole frame was racked convulsively, I being powerless even to place my hands upon his head to comfort him. Thus he wept, until the sound of his sobbing disturbed the group of villains, who had not yet settled their disputings. Then up spoke one of them — the dog-faced Canaanite who had first rushed at me on the road — saying : — " John, take thy club and dash that brat's brains out. He will bring all the sheriffs in the county on us, if he continues that dog's-howling" Whereat the stripling with blue eyes and golden hair, seizing 10 a monstrous club th«f I i, • . ^he lad havinff heard th. "tu attitude in whioh T , i ^^*'^" '^7 reason of fha '"CKet, when some burst of 11 ^rass and 'y desisted 'proaching- not doubt, "tiy Wars >y Jooking- his head. The boy I'ipling's. I'flour as he hand '»!• take riien it it with ing an lad in B brief ■I'ound >r His ■htbe tired this ' the luch liich com We iset ing ere of laughter, or storm of curses, caused them to speak louder than was their wont. Presently, however, as night deepened even these sounds sank into silence. The lad, wearied with the long day, slipped down at my feet, and resting against me as best he could, fell asleep. The birds had ceased to sing ; the stars came out; and in all that solitude there was no sound except the snorting and munching of my horse, and the twitter of the insects in the wood. How long a time went by. I know not ; for I too, notwith standing all my pains fell into a gentle slundjer. Suddenly I was waked. It was no longer dark, for a great, golden moon at its full had risen just above the tree-tops, making the stars pale, and turning the sky to a deep, imperial purple. The boy had stirred; he was kneeling upright on the cool grass, gazing at this to hini new wonder, of the moon shining on the world of night. I gazed down at him in silence, not knowing how to address him in this sad situation ; when suddenly there burst from him a strain such as I never expect to hear again until I stand amid the serried hosts around the Throne. It was the anthem we had heard in Westminster the previous eve, and which I had taught him long before, playing, to his singing, on the harpsichord, with good Master Capel accompaning with his violin. " Why art thou so heavy, my sovyl ; and why art thou so disquieted within me ?" Then loud and clear, like the song of an archangel .soaring through heaven itself, there rose this pure and faultless voice, ever mounting higher, ever waxing fuller and more strong, as if it would leave all earth behind, and pierce to the very Throne of God. " Oh, put thy trust — put thy trust in God — in God — i7i God — in God !" No bird pouring forth its song in the sunlight, no chorister chanting in the vast cathedral choir, I had almost said no angel worshipping on Heaven's sapphire floor, ever flooded the air with a sweeter, louder, more enthralling burst of mingled melody and prayer. Small wonder was it that the tears came to my eyes, ill' I' i 1 i 12 ^nd flowed free? J -'•■■ft.; ::: ,r:r;;„""";/ "^--^ a ':, r:f r- ''■■* »„, ^as the vonn . ™ *^^« thicket T . ^"''*^ "^ovW Coding Co/e 1 ; ::7°™i'>'". '" ""»" " '^"■'^ ■ny comrade,, should i f ""' "''"' »" »Peed ■ h,,, •, meanwhile, "'^ "'°"S» wit), the knife he h„ sweet ' J ^'^nnot endure t J ^'^ "«re, say,„g So saying he slinn J "^'^^''''t I catch he took the !»,.;„,„."""*«'"»'■ my use. When r I , ""« kis.si„(, hi,,, h ■,., '■' "'•"'■'. again me„ed I, " *"' '"""nted ""') -to t , t 'atV; '"''; '"' "'■" ?- V o e™. ™» «i„^ '8 my Maker 'od cease to '*J^J ki.elt on, gure moving 'ived that it *ncl a knife lilently lest we, saying 1 sing such '^he great "tJ I shalJ d here be ^* I catch . donned ''hen he having counted ast, and taking fisward e until ird by when onger to ine eady oned the you. 13 Well do I perceive that all good is not extinguished in you, in that you have still a heart that can be moved by the singing of God's anyel, for little short of such do I believe this child to be. Know then that there is music lovelier b}' far than that which you have heard to-night, the music of the sinner's voice acknowledging his guilt before his God. No song you ever chanted in the great church at Ely ^^ill sound so sweet in Heaven as that. Farewell, gentle villain ; may God guide you hack to honest ways." So saying I whipped up my horse, and rode away, leaving the half-repentant robber gazing after us through the moonlight. The stars were fading and the dawn was near, ere we reached our home at Elmtoft, the which, however, we accomplished without more mishap. 11. The morrow having come, I found my grief for my wife (that excellent creature) much assuaged bv the fact that the pious women of my flock had alrea'' t'H)u.h Jon. ,^- '^^ first .so.::; :^,. 7^ ^ ^-r .j t.'^x":''^"^^^'"- ^^"^ no Samuel but « '•^' '^'^ '''^^H'ise di J' k "^ ''"•'' ^^^^ to ^'«"icl bring 4f , r*^""' ^o"«.-Hophn 1^,^^ '''■"'. callin. «au.se, saving ;;: ° ^^ ''^'^'-"^ heart' p^"!^'^^"^'-- which «^'-«wn her bed! ' ^"^' '" « '"o.nent ^ ' '^'' '^' ^ad no r^' - ^- tan te T'' ''^^^' -^^ a atr;r'- '"^^ -- ^^'^'•t bled) beat H '"'" ^"'' ^^'ch fau , r ^'^ ^ ^^^"^'f"J of ^ffl^et,on, forbidding hC7 '" '^""y' "" the bread , T'''^' ^'^^^^- *''"«. so that he mi4t , ""^ ''" '^^ church f "'*^^^'- ^^ *^0'- bv this t,W f *"" '" «««"^J a.rain , 'i"""^ "^' that S""day i; oj; '' "^ ;^ wa.s can.e to pa^s ..' ']' ""'^^'^ ^e did. '«"«ic of our h,f ^ P'^''^ "ntunefnl „ , ^ """ '^'^ the rest Abbey. Thou<.h for ' '''^'^ <^he white r > Tt''" "'^^ '^o ''et the singers. By tZ r ^^'''" ^'''''^^y I acw/ f '"'' ^'''^"^ed ««d who had of 1 ';T ^"^'^^'^'J hy a sent ' ^'^' '"''" ^^'«on- r' to the Jad, who a, "'' '"*^^"'. ut too well pleased." " Then may I not sing next Sunday the s.^tting we made from Palfstrina. Thou knowest the one I mean. It Ijegins, " The darkncKH iHtiodarhies.s with thee." I can sing it immediately when thou has said, Llfjhten our darkve,-!.s out of the connuon prayer. Oh, if only good Master Capel were here with his violin ! Can we have the violin in Church, father ? " " I fear not my son," I said. " Is the violin a sinful instrument father ? " " People might think it so." " 'Tis strange," he said. " when the blessed angels play on har|)s and violins in heaven." " How knowest thou ?" I asked. " I saw it in a picture," he responded. " And is the harp also a sinful instrument ? " "I cannot tell, my son," I answered sadly. "Some things be held sinful at Elmtoft that were not so at Queen's Lynn." " " But howsoever, we can have the anthem ? " " I fear not," I said. "Oh father, why?" "Good Mistress Wake, the e.xcellent widow, did not like thy singing in the church to-day, nor did others. They care not for such music. And I much misdoubt, my son, whether you and I lifted up our hearts to God as tiuly as we ought. Master North, and Sidesman Gidley, and Beadle Josiah Dil lard are all godly men. They must know what is right." " Did Mistress Wake, the excellent widow, go out of Church because I santr ^ " " She di ^ '^-''iflvve/l r ,'" "»" - 1! , ;;:* ^ «■»...- ; .,,/,:;;rr •■"'■ •'■■-■ ^-n.- J^koned ,„v ,,„„,, J„7'""''«'. and i„ ,,„ „, "'"'"" »'-^ month., '".fit widow, siiifl. .L ■'^ *'"*>• Mi^f..,.. .. ' ' ''"'ifinir ■r"'"'"' you,.,,, ,,",'"' -'"-i of o„n,, ' "'""■"'■ "'« ;:""•■: »''o ti,i„k ;;,'!' ■"'<' t«yto°„-„L""^ ;""-;■ "..i,a,.p. 'h« i-p and I, w , '°T"i'«- o, «„; :, ;!.";■"« -f h„ B.'^r ?«»'<"■ T,.e,dwe|, '' "'^' '"l"et~U,e r , "'"* "■'"• «l,o,^ ^ 'th this h« ^ '*"•>'- ^^'«'-t}iy sir f T "'^^'^ »"t \ven , After tJ,i.s I ^,,^^^- ^^'^'P'-ehendin. b.fc °^ ««r wardens « '" ''"^ distress Tn "^' ^'-"PPe'I up with y 'vnf'i e, an. J w,?nt ^•^ ''*'^<-'d up her ■'''■^" ^Hn.l they '^'uvofnie; '^■« THhi'efc rail', "■''^■". as ,„,. ■ ^"c'<. many tercl u-orthj- '" '"■^' ffoing ^•iand.s nn.j '"•^ months >u have not y> jndging ■''f'l'. that Jf never t'>« harp- there be '"^fJ pass 'is BibJe. ■h vv'honi "U. good ot welj. ino-." "^'" bnfc of one to the ^'ith 19 pillows and sittino' at her window, it l»ein^' all her ("otiipany to h)()k out at the passtM's-by. After saiutinnf each other indue t'or?n, ami cnijuiries concern- ing the wortliy woman's health, she bade; nie be seated, and spoakinj^ in a hi/.,s of •S US vou '"'•. sickly "' ■'^'•CO/Ki '" 'H>t to •^ bo yofw your "ake und 21 ashes ax n minister hIiouM. And so ftirowoll, good nir; and thank you kinillv for the Imcoii and the red fhiniu'l you sent to tui lust week. Tli<'y he nof so good as our hite irspected slicphenl usetl to scml ; hut I suppose it he all you can atlbiil. Tis a dark prospect for a parish when the juinister's family he poor as Wi-ll HM iicklv." M.ikiiij^ a respectful ourtsev tho dame (a worthy peiN m) hohhied away with tiie help of her stick, not knovvinLj how sure a wound she had left l)ehind in my poor heart. And indeed it was a wound wliich had small chance to heal ; for all that ilay, and many days after, tlio pious memhers of my Hock addressed their ren>arks to me in the samt^ tenor, till I was so weighted with a sense of mine own infirmity that 1 scarce felt tit to walk the earth. This, however, I could have home, knowing myself to lie a sinful man ; hut all my heart cried out whenever any spoke of the lad as like to be taken away from me. This I could not believe: I said God could not try me so; it would he more tlian tle.'-h could bear ; and besi i. ; r' """".' - " '"■ "•'■ •■«* ;•: rr- ' love,, ,:',""- f'."..t,-oai ,i,,,! '"'■.'''■'''-■-''■' tT "■'"■""' ""'"e '" '"-^ "»'''». 'h„, 4.,'^;;- 'ass,, „„;-;..,, I JV^-- ' '"'■line,! u > Po/e," or " L. , '"^'^ P/oa.se' ^'•/vuui- 8've our "'J- last ' t^'f'in ,^ '"/)HJly, 'P 'i/.s,V '/fence. "■ mnj '" had ^g on 23 the grass near by, in company with a younjf spaniel dog'. And a pretty sight it was to see theui making merry in their gambols, as the manner of young things is, they having but little thought of care. Upon whom the worthy spinster casting her e\'es, .said, as .she had often said before, " Oh, how he needs a mother !" And as I did not reply, she went on to add : — " I haVe observed that his clothing is washed with little or no amidon, and I doubt if his linen is ever laid away in lavender. I cannot but fear lest evil should overtake a child brought up in that way. And he is so good and prett\', poor, mothei'less orphan!" Upon which the kind creature's eyes tilled with tears, and as she turned them towards me with an expression of much sympa- thy, I was so far moved as to venture to address her thus : " Good spinster, the year of mourning is not past for that worthy female now no more; and there are thoughts which I had intended to keep hushed within my bosom until that sad time be over, well knowing what is due from a n)an of understanding cowards a faithful creature, who has likewise been a docile and obedient wife. And if I now pour forth my feelings in your ear, 'tis not from any hastiness or impropriety, but from being moved by your so gi'eat and constant sympathy. Wherefore I crave your leave to speak, that you might know all that is in my heart, and counsel me as you think best." "Oh, speak, speak!" .she murmured, -'I have long looked forward to this hour." Whereupon I felt encouraged to continue, and thus went on; — " As soon as I had laid that e.xcellent creature to her rest in our family burying place at Stratton Audley, it was borne in upon me that one day this young child would require a mother's care. Bef'M'e ever I reached London, aftei' the sad obsequies, I saw that I could not give him that solicitous attention in trivial things in whicli the female mind is versed. Hail it not been for the maternal providence of good Mistress Wake, 1 doubt not but that there would have been more grievous defects in his apparel tlian a want of amidon ; for in truth I am a man ot books, rather than one gifted with an insight into household things. For which reason, as well as for other causes that I need not name, I have '"«"t „ , "'/«'■ '■" '"•■■ b '"""•"'"We „!,'•■"'■".' Aft,,, "> 8'-c.„t ,J,7"-''- >'<.ioe t,„ (. '» ""'"fort ij^"''""'"'':; ».i, f P°'*'' hi,kli„" "■ "Pf"-".-.),-,, "'"' "bout ! • "'"■'' I "•,„ ''°' Nomine. " ^"-'"c/iino- j^ "^"Ji^^: '"''"^^^'y she '^•''^'' to rio '"'^''ip of 25 III. Not long after this it chanced one day, tiiat sitting- in the little ftpartrnent where we took our repasts, and tiie door of the kitchen being ajar, I overheard a conversation between good Widow Wake and my little son. For by this time it was come about that they were more friemlly than heretofore : this virtuous female not bemg able to resist his pnjtty ways, nor to hold out against the affection of which his young heart was full, aniiv 'Pt'nt of rtiifl I "'/// tt'U ut 'I- a]/ .Von, Vn-th you iiii.sj ''■'"ff rovth Oln antb ems ^nd tbe b "''"g foi- b "" *" brea/, \ o t'atb i.s "u,/ ,s/„ tf'f 1 I We,/ /, *"t (It /, en dar/f ■sin.s. ne.s.s , But i"om "n tb. iiiirtb 7"^ ev,/ ],,^,j «"d to ■su/fer, We oine. patb ■sit eeb "'•ch /lad ^en bo/,f '^" vvoj-/fe,.l f'^t 'er took „ie female ? " ^'*" if» !• J 'ley ,"■ "•''■" thJ , "."' '-'i :;"? '■"'■"> -e.st, ^■''tood in P*^ce ;,.it/, 'ic/)ej-,s of t ^e.sJdy J Were ' '^ii/fei-, '^ We ^ path '^O Hit I iio/d ^i'/ced 27 into his blood tliat he would sino- in spite of all tliat we could do. Once he stole back to his place aiiion• son ?" r . '"-''P'"' '.. bit, T' '"■' "' one. .. ""■■ "'s-kt ? St ■";'■■■'••'-•...,. ., '"'■est ofAhho,' ,\ «""""l.t„„ ''"'' 'f ev,,. -^ ""«*iy '" ^vnnt '' '^>-ink of '^■"'^Mt;,, ,.... '""" -^^'' >^/eep. not 7 ^'^ '^"'' ^e,./c 'ght 'iie Hs/ced a,s ^'«^v-'« ,s.o,j... '""S-/1, and ^' "«t like "^ SHIIK ■e nerti- 'J- tile '•oiig/i ' t/ie rey 29 mare, early in the iiioriiiM>>;, and not intendintf to return till after nightfall, eating suine victnuLs at mid-day at tlie house of Sir John Bree, a wortliy gentlemen, the s(|uire of those parts, who had married Susan, daughter to that wicked wonuui, my Lady Norton, she that spat in tin; King's face while on his way to execution, for which cause I never could be at ease in the company of my Lady Bree, but dii'ected my conversation as much us possible to that honest squire. Sir John. On this day, it was my intention to remain all the morning and afternoon at Little Topping, and to ride home bv twili- up, and there being signs of violent wind und rain, I altered my mind, deciding to make for Elmtoft about five of the clock, the which I did, ari'iving at the Vicaragci gates about one liour later, and just as the sun was going down in a great halo of wild and lui-id clouds, some yellow like Hre, and some i-ed, and all pregnant with the tempest. On entering my grounds I was somewhat surpi'ised at not seeing my little son run down thi,> avenue to meet me, such being his custom wlienever he heard my lioi'se's tread. However I thought but little of the matter, and rode I'ound at once to the stables, wishino' to see the mare made snuy- for the niffht. Returning by the back offices I en(|uire iie was Kal.aL«i,,,ey,tLsi,:,:,C, vel I "'"?1^-"'"='^1>'>-. in« the,,, into ,„„! ,:;',,;:"'' "■"'■ "'*>■"'' «"■""« 'h« l...b, lead- convictcl of faieho", , ll" """^'"'^ "''' Y*"' '''i'^ ---p-i.io„;;;:^-vrt,^:Lr,:.yi'^^^^^^^^^ 81 er of that ein ; only w n.sing, 1 at once t no ; the II, a rosy tie bltick fs rtgone, mid-day perceive ixiously, on hinj, lie be lly, yea ore she in the t been ossible sword, le was ?ypsy, )i'.s()ok . lead- ; that d lier some beino' ained )n, I paused to rebuke her fault in very noble terms, addressin*^ her as a daughter of Babylon and a wilful perverter of veracity, dooiued if she continued thus to everlasting torture by the v..,,e,.,,l,:;,:::--;:t----^.vil4. «^.^:'Z'"; s '':';--:■■■■: rr-'-"^ -"'■«»'■«'- '"give i,«. furtb^; J ;,f,c r' '■""■ ""'' '''*"-i "f ...0 Widow Trondet """ ' ''"""" '" «" ""'l -„|„ira ""• 'l'.':ti"ii::: /.sr;,,:'- ^^t™«^. ^ »- •» to„w o„t ■""> -villi,,, to ^iiT ti,:;: ":^ zf^x"'.';--- "-^ ni.i,t, i„y so,,. • """' '"""g if only I „,ig|,t |i„,| ionet,Li::t';;i;;x.TC:,r;:r "'"■"'■"» ""■ "■'"»»•» to .ny t,oul,l,. At tl„. , , "^T- T '*'" '" '""> "'"» "'I'lin" «e,.ce, P.o,nisi„,t'it,.:rb :;;,'; t' '"^" ';■"""''■"'"' -« being „„„p,,t»„.,„„;';;;i,,"^_^™'"-" - «t ti,,-, u, i,„„, cHed."^rjV:-;--f t o;-;nr.so„ t„is day, g„„, ,,„„„.,., , ■'>"»tu„h,>ppyfatho, ;'"-"' """■-"' "" «Peed, for I a,„ a "Indeed, I haw seen him" «1 oo.npa„y_„a,„e,y „itl. tbat blae..;e"J.o:t:;^::;:f IZ::! 88 RaliahCiidli'y.slic that loads evi-ry la lucky if .she go not lame, or have a s(|uintat the least. I liavt'a spell that can do Itoih. JShe it was who this very >\,\y tempted your .son, good sir, to ill-treat an inoffensive fowl, Ahich is a hird not surpa.ssed for good hehaviour and a certain gentility of manner for twenty parish(>s round, I would yf)u had seen the poor beast with a stocking tied upon his head, he running round the garden in a lamentable frenzy and thiidving the end of the world had come; while tluit iniipiitous jaaek a^'aiii : " "He has not conie back— yet. To-morrow, you will hiing him ill your own two arms— hut he will hv cold mid hdpl.-s.s, and will iK.t h.'iu- y(.u when you sprak to him. Go, minister, and ride all iii^dit tliiouirh the storm, ride (.n and ride hard— and in the moriiin;; you will find him, l.iit where you little expect him to he. Vou are not lucky. It he always hard on a parish when the mini.ster is not lucky. Hut mount your liorsi and m> ' Indeed 1 am w.dl aven^red this ni^dit I'or the evil done to my white grander : " At this the a<,'ed dame, looking' very wild, and wavin^f her arms in a manner which cau.sedni.- fear, opened the door and almost thrust me out. Scarce knowin/^r wlmt I did I mounted once more, ami urocl my hor.se on through the storm, which was now exceeding tierce, the wind blowing a fearful gale, and the rain dashing into my face so as to nearly blind me. Now, too, began the lightning to flash, in great <|uiveriiig sheets of blue and yellow Hie. lighting u|) the wt>t road before nie, so that I could see every pool and tree illumined by a brief, weird glory, which vanishing made the darkness darker than before. Above, the thunder rolled, as if the very heavens would break down: while 1 rode on and on, fast and furiously, not knowing where I went. My only tlunight was that the widow had bidden me doit, to find my boy. For indeed she was a wise woman, and knew things which were hidden from others. Whence she had this knowledge 1 could not learn, but that she po.sse.ssed it was beyond all cavil. She could prophesy death and sickness with amazing surety, and she had charms of wondrous efHcacy for every sort of plagne. By one she could aid infants in bringing through their teeth: by another she could make cows calve; and by another .she could foretell to maidens the colour of the hair of the swains whom they would wed. And now when she bade me ride on thus, I could not Imt think that it must bring me to my son: and even though he sh(.uld be dead as she had hinted. ( :}.•) ' anaml. I • nulur family va\ilt at Strattoii Amllcy. Tlu' mart' Iuts.'U" sfctiu'.l t<. tV.'l that th.- hoy was ^roii.-. for she (hishcd (.iiwanl with litth- ..f ik. stimuhis from inc. If .-ver 8he halted f.M' u moment, or stumhied, I instantly thou^'ht tlie lad's hody was at lier feet. At times the wind woid.l rise to a hij,di, i.ii-rein^r shriek, and ever antill: she could go no more. Slipping to the ground, I stood and .ried to pierce the darkness around n-.e; bnt in vain. T could ])ei-ceive nothing, but that we 36 I I'D were near to a forest of some kind, and tl.at a niiglity oak spread Its branches halfway across the road. Tliis aHoi-ded some very sli^rht protection from the rain, which was now steadily and strai^ditly coming down, as though it never would stop again. Drawing the poor, jaded mare within that indifferent shelter, I stood for a moment wondering what was to become of me. Here I was in tlie pitch darkness of the mithiight, far from home, Ignorant of my whereabouts, my boy probably dead, and little sensation of life left in me. Small wonder is it that I felt heart- broken and God-forsaken. No one in all earth or heaven seemed to care for me, but the gentle, affectionate beast whose warm breath I could feel at that moment upon my cold, wet face and hands. She and I seemed deserted and alcne together; and drawing her face close to mine, I buried my countenance in her wet, quivering hide, and, for the first time in many years, burst into unmanly tears. How long I stood there thus I cannot tell. I tliink I must have wept myself, even as a child does, into a gentle slumber; for I was sorely worn and weary. I was roused at last by an impatient nujvement from the mare, who now began to recover from her condition of fatigue, an.l to wonder why we stood so long in that outlandish spot. When I raised my head I perceived to my surprise and joy that a faint, gray light was growing, and that the dawn had come. The rain, too, had ceased r H, t ,m W<«.1,1 ch,istlse n,e wltb a ml, also <;,vu,g n,e home tb, t J a " '"^' , ^„ , ,„„ ,„,„,, thinking I t: ,:;,:;,: at "lui;;: gentu. vuba,,, ...i b™, hi,,, bo™. n '^ . v.vv far to \bbofs Oak, and then I lost my way, and ::,:::;• ;^;:n:.:nc. ,i,|,o,„ an,! l.ea.l ,n l,o , „.cct,„„ „f Al.bnf., Oak, » „,,,, the sk,,,,, Jr. „ Hopms t.. Kct t„ ,„„. „e„t the s,«„e,., I t,K,k a short cut th o„ h he t„ e.st, l,y a l,y-,,„th known „„ P,.in„,„e Lane, nrri,,. ^^y ". «■ to,-u-a,-, , «, a, ,., get ,n„ler cover the n„„-e .,„ cklv "a I ^)..e 1 an. phniRe,!, and then after backing „ few pace, a, if ii'Tfrhtene.!, stooil ,|uite .still Knowing n, ,t n , ciuise fo,- *1. , . '^'i"» "IS tliat there must be some H e,e,t 1 T I'l'"' ' "' 7*' "'-«'■ ' '-M -y 1-ath and , '^ ' '''1' ""■ "■ """'' "■"■■' •><"■'« '" ".» "I-on the win.l Incl can,,e,l „,e or the n,on,e„t to fear that 1 was dead and in oter world, tl,,,„,.h I could not understand why such as I ™.t,the,e rose above all the howlins of the ten.pest, and the w n an,o„sthe trees, a voice which 1 could not but think to be an a.ige .,, It .sang clear and Hrni, those wor,ls which I n.vself had »o e„ chanted in the great. Hack Church at Ely, and whi ; '"'I""";!."' th. tlncket at Abbots Oak. Oh, put Ihy t,-u„, »' II,,, tra., m Oo.l-^iu Go,J-in God-in God ! Those were Angel of Death to come and carry me somewhere,-to the (ien.ls may b. But the n.oment the voice ceased, another cry went up V ryb,tter, „n,l n, a little child's ,„nes, • Mother; OhfjHother': wiM",TO„".'"' " "'"" """"■ ^■°"'* """*' '""'• "'"' ''"«"• '"'"■■ "' "»'' thro',?''' ■'"w";" "'?'/;•""''■ ' " I »*«1. l"'Ping that the good cut- th..ut,,,,g,.tbennstaken I that the boy i„ hi., ,,|„tl.»„ had wh.if; w.:;;r'::tU™i ""'"• """"■'■■ ""^'' ■""'" ■■ >^"" " At the moment when this cry wont un " flu. vill.,;,. „ ^- i „ . , ., , . -^ "'^'"i' iip) t'lt; villain continued a n,ost ternble flash of lightning lit up all the road, and th " ::^""" :; I't "";'. "-- '»'- "-"■ 'he lane knelt h ht'U.e 01 a bttle boy, h„ two baud, clasped in prayer. It needed no second thought to tell n,e whose child it wai, fi there are no find 39 „.,. ht.n.,1. K«>^; ■- ,„tl L'if :.e l.a.l expecte.! ,„. to c,„„c, ; iL-oyboing g.-eat. as I al».. know. H.ougl. I au. but a '■""rwo„l.l have taken hi,,, h„„,e at once, go.Kl »i,-, only 1 knew nngnt.t bi-irig so innocent a lad among iK'st at Abbots Oak, oi to uiing , | g,, I took ,a,andonecl nien. such as my comrades mostly ;"- ^ '^ ' ^^^^^ tluMe benig no dry aiticle ot c otu ^ r ^^ tr;::*W w^-!: the ,.,„. Cy Ka„„e„t I h., o„ n,e^ .„.,a.hya.,iyh,e,,»y.a.go„a»n,he^^,^n^^^^^^ \,ut that oi benig dry. And m it ht is wi 1 1 . , ^ ^^.g^t all his own attire being still unlit to put upon '" " -^j^'f.^,^^ ,.isk to his health, the which, I fear is '^l^^ >;^t. r^^^^^^^^^^ And so I deliver him up to ydo aua - v t^ 1 iv 'f • "P' ""' "^^"">' ^"^•"'"«' »"« ' ^ .1} , w itliout even wishing nie good dav Bein^' thus left alone with niv so.i T 1, .1 ^' to take him hack to Ehntoft L hi^ inV "' '"" ''' '" ^^"* than I had thou-rht havin, I ■ ''''' "''"■"^" *''^' t^'^^n the lanes in tM^p^i^^^f:, "^T^ ''"™>^ ^'- -^''t of all within a n.ile of 'f Vn '""' ^^^^'^'^^ ^1>"^ ''ein,. the outskirts of ,.u: town " '""""' ^^"^^^'^' ^^^^^ -« <^'^ Early as it was that virtuous person was .t 1. as 1 passed by, n.y son Ivin-. in . v an.?s • ^'"''^'''-S'^'^' shee.weanness,tliighn:,t;sl"p ' " -'—us through " Eh, out you have found Jiim '" cl, • i "And is he deuP No? T •''';^«»-^^'^J-^« I approached. but tLt ,„, ,voui; i ;" ', 'r;r: :: "°"'V" ■'"•"'■ """ '"■"■»• spoke ' Ev,.„ s„ ,„,. >tr,w I ^ ' ■ ■"""' »'°" "''^ you Henit,,,ul,le no",::' ;.„,,'':'- '"^ ""«"• """ '"« I- g"-. And so I fetched him home. -/ 41 li^ IV. IT wa., long e« I eouia sivc up hope. Tl>e leech, that worthy man l.le.l the Wl to,- the tevev which lay upon Inn. an,l l.n 1 :li n . a, if itwonhl consn.ne the »ml ;™' "'''"' Zowi^ Ly. F,H- „,a„y ,lays ho to»He,l about upon h,» '-■""'--; "f ,„eL any that »to„,l by, l«.t only ™'"*Vi , ". thvo 't wick«l gyp»y, and Wi.low •IVcn.lct, an.l the gentle e""" » It thne» h babblcl sweetly of the evening prayer m t g.e C nrch at Westn,in»ter, an.l of the wonnu, we ^'^^^^^^^ Sn,ithtiekl : but through all, his nun>l wamle e,) helplcs m ima-ininos in a niann.,>r most painful to l«holvas tha he .le ned notlnng Hcseentl to have lost all interest » »■ " ' ""'' ^, .J , weary of life already, when he scarced had hved. ^^^^^^ rfven' th decreased, and the leech c.add only bid us hnd some, thh-jt. bX,g his half-departed soulhack to the world .rgan, <^'^l.^::';ri'":';:::,':Xwr' I whispe.d, laying my head close to his upon the pillow. " Nothing," he said, gently, but listlessly. " Will you not have your toys?" " No, father." " Nor your bow and arrow ? " No, worthy sir." " Shall I play upon the harpsichord ? . " muld you like to see Joyful DiUard, and SanbalU.t North undhave then, play cateh-the-ball here in thy chan,ber < Yes thou wouklst like that, my precious oHspnng :?L^Rth:^"oidley shall come ^'^ ""^^^^^^^^ She can make rare faces, with her tongue very tar out, and 42 two c.y.s r,.lli„. .lifiercM.t ways at once. Tho„ knowest she h«s oiton ,„awl„.] i -n x "^' ""^*^' '» '^^r .](nvn he,- ),. .1 1 / ,1- 'i^'"^''^'«l fi'i'l ill at ease, also hanLnng r 'r,^7'' ''"<^ '•''•'•"^^ I'^'i- I'lack eyes upwards. " And all the while the leech, good Widow Wake, Warden North an bringing His entry into the room moved mv littlf. h,»^ . .i ■ hope. ■ eagerness as to give us thou r '"'"'"'" ' '"""• '"y'^o.-^-M-to,. Capel »icl. " Cho„,o Then the child sighed. home^'^H " ''' ""'' ?''" "''^' '''''' '•>"""' ' Jerusalen,, n>y happy ■so often to p ease her in our hon.e at Queen s Lynn " sideani T '"';'^'"r'^ the w^orthy man. .seate.l by the be.l- s eand drawing the bow most gently, played the il, ,„I t i] h \ 4 4:1 The n«.e hoyWye, ».on,., to «- W..-, an.) mo,.e he sang: ..Jerusalem, my happy home ! Name ever dear to me '■ When shall my hibourn have and end. Thy joya when shall 1 see '; .1 ;.. . vvns weak ami faltering; For the first tow verses the -' ^--/\'"/; \ ^,^^^^ ,,,, heard and then it burst forth as clear anouu„ Paradise) he sang the words •.— " \h my sweet home, .Jerusalem ! Would (lodlwere in thee! Then shall my labours have an end, When I thy joys shall see.' At which he ceased U, sing, gating before him a, at first, the eves becoming almost fixed. <"Tis death 1" said a whispered voice behind me. ? 44 ^^_^T,„.„i„s. , .„.„. u„. Wi,|,„v Tn.,„lot. who 1,„H co,„o to ,ee the " He will soon go now." she sai.l But I eoulJ not wait fo,- tl,.t. It w„, beyond n,y power to fjussou into tlie cool, niolit nii-. A full ,„oo„ lit up tlu. sar,le„ will, „ ,plen,li,l li..|,t l,ut I ,li,l «ot eed , Pacing up and down the lonely walks I lit h« u-t .,-,.ak,„g. I wished that it n,i,l,t break' that I too , i ,?t fo \ . ' ''"' ""' "'"' '"^" '""■ >''«" "''■ "•- takiu. all I ; u Jed Z'r IT f: T' """"■"" "" '■'- 1 ■''•- I fe a, tl„,d I''"' ? '".' '■ '"""• • "■■" ■'•■■' '■"■■ «- moment sTi wr;,,t ■'■ L^'"' """■ -*-«!> tl.at was ahnosn r:e^:f:i^ft:f;;;rb:'i::r™— p..ri;: ove, and gazing at the house. I knew hiu, i„ the moonli,-ht \ wa.. the tall robber Taking a,lvanta«e of the nig "tt S run all risks to come for tidings of the ehihl ° "How is he ?» he asked softly, as I approached. ^^ Uy,„g_or dead !" was all that I could say. Let me .see him, but once more '" the'hSr ■" ' "'"■ ""'' ''' '"'" "■""S'' *<' S-J^n-door, within A-H we aproached the bed, he at first took no heed. Then ^> 45 « tl.o robber i ^-ok of heavenly joy - '" ":fj:';r:n;n"^ -.■:''..«.. to co,„e ueMnto,,. ovtM'spreau nis la c. «>■'»"» „„„ tho excellent wi.low wiU ^•"■'""^' :;"lZr. 1 »l.al> be live with .ny honouve,! fa.,he,--a".l « * m ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ „en »..on. And tl,e villa.,, «' ,1 ;' '^.U . '.' bi.-.Vs-nestlng with e„tcl,-tl,e-hall ii, the niea. ,.w . an.l »e .1 a „ ^^.^^^ ^^ Rahah Giaiey ; and I »l>aU let the 'f^^"^'^ ,^ ^^ , .. lK,vv an.l aTOW. O, goo.l v.lla,,,, how happy »e ■> ^Y 1 Ar,,! nnvv he is near coine to man's Thus n,y ehiU wa» ,ave.l. ^n. now h __^^^^^^_ ^^^^^ e,tate,andi»agoo,Uonto,ne lie > n ^^_^^^___^ pio„» widow, have '"jj.;™ , 't; In, ,,„,„e. wi,e„ I hope cr^s::^/~t:x--^Hea.a„d honoured mother.