ould come whilst I'm
gone, what would become of you, Barbery Jane."

"Well," said she, looking aghast, and sinking into her chair anew, "I
declare, if I hadn't forgot that!"

But she was a person who "made it a point" to carry her point in all
domestic arrangements and controversies with her lord; and partly on
this principle, and partly, we hope, from a worthier motive, she
rallied, and added,--

"But I'll risk it, if you will, James. An' I'm more in danger 'n you
are, bein' I'm so fleshy. You can hide most anywhere in the woods, and
they couldn't find ye any more 'n a needle in a haymow; an' I never
could stand it to think on't that we'd been sich cowards--"

"Cowards!" interrupted her husband, goaded by this; for on the matter
of size and courage he was specially sore--a wound which his spouse
took care to keep open. "Cowards!" and, bristling about, and striking
his feet together, he bustled out, and, with commendable energy, soon
had the horse in the buggy before the door. Tom sprang in, as the
kind-hearted woman passed him a bountiful supply of provisions,
saying, as she wiped her eyes with her apron,--

"I hope next time you come this way you'll be alive an' well; but I'm
dreadful afeard the Injuns'll git ye." The latter remark seemed to
have more effect upon her husband than Tom, for the flush disappeared
from his cheeks again.

The ponderous wife watched the wagon until it was out of sight, then,
with much pains, fastened the little window and the outer door, and,
going to her trunk, took from thence a copy of the Bible, and sat down
and read a chapter--a duty which she always performed on extra
occasions, and especially in times of danger. It mattered not to her
what chapter she read; and she now opened to the genealogical records
in First Chronicles. She was a poor reader at best; but she struggled
on with those names of foreign accent, feeling much safer with the
exercise, while her thoughts were far away, following Tom and her
husband. In truth, she had done a good deed, and one that had cost her
a real sacrifice, in sending away her husband with the horse to
accompany the lad; and the consciousness of this began to fill her
with happiness, calmed as she was by the feeling of security which
the use of the good Book imparted. Hers was a simple-hearted faith;
but who shall say that she was not accepted and blessed according to
the measure of her light?

Who would not choose to be such a one, with her