hief.

"Hush thee, dear!" said Rachel, gently; "hush, Ruth! Tell us, shall we
tell her now?"

"Now! to be sure,--this very minute. Why, now, suppose 't was my John,
how should I feel? Do tell her, right off."

"Thee uses thyself only to learn how to love thy neighbor, Ruth," said
Simeon, looking, with a beaming face, on Ruth.

"To be sure. Isn't it what we are made for? If I didn't love John and
the baby, I should not know how to feel for her. Come, now do tell
her,--do!" and she laid her hands persuasively on Rachel's arm. "Take
her into thy bed-room, there, and let me fry the chicken while thee does
it."

Rachel came out into the kitchen, where Eliza was sewing, and opening
the door of a small bed-room, said, gently, "Come in here with me, my
daughter; I have news to tell thee."

The blood flushed in Eliza's pale face; she rose, trembling with nervous
anxiety, and looked towards her boy.

"No, no," said little Ruth, darting up, and seizing her hands. "Never
thee fear; it's good news, Eliza,--go in, go in!" And she gently pushed
her to the door which closed after her; and then, turning round, she
caught little Harry in her arms, and began kissing him.

"Thee'll see thy father, little one. Does thee know it? Thy father is
coming," she said, over and over again, as the boy looked wonderingly at
her.

Meanwhile, within the door, another scene was going on. Rachel Halliday
drew Eliza toward her, and said, "The Lord hath had mercy on thee,
daughter; thy husband hath escaped from the house of bondage."

The blood flushed to Eliza's cheek in a sudden glow, and went back to
her heart with as sudden a rush. She sat down, pale and faint.

"Have courage, child," said Rachel, laying her hand on her head. "He is
among friends, who will bring him here tonight."

"Tonight!" Eliza repeated, "tonight!" The words lost all meaning to her;
her head was dreamy and confused; all was mist for a moment.

When she awoke, she found herself snugly tucked up on the bed, with a
blanket over her, and little Ruth rubbing her hands with camphor. She
opened her eyes in a state of dreamy, delicious languor, such as one
who has long been bearing a heavy load, and now feels it gone, and would
rest. The tension of the nerves, which had never ceased a moment since
the first hour of her flight, had given way, and a strange feeling of
security and rest came over her; and as she lay, with her large, dark
eyes open, she followed, as in a quie