s]

The paper fell from Miss Vilda's trembling fingers, and two salt tears
dropped into the kissing places.

"The Lord forgive me!" she said at length (and it was many a year since
any one had seen her so moved). "The Lord forgive me for a hard-hearted
old woman, and give me a chance to make it right. Not one reproachful
word does he say to us about showin' partiality,--not one! And my heart
has kind of yearned over that boy from the first, but just because he
had Marthy's eyes he kept bringin' up the past to me, and I never looked
at him without rememberin' how hard and unforgivin' I'd ben to her, and
thinkin' if I'd petted and humored her a little and made life
pleasanter, perhaps she'd never have gone away. And I've scrimped and
saved and laid up money till it comes hard to pay it out, and when I
thought of bringin' up and schoolin' two children I cal'lated I couldn't
afford it; and yet I've got ten thousand dollars in the bank and the
best farm for miles around. Samanthy, you go fetch my bonnet and
shawl,--Jabe, you go and hitch up Maria, and we'll go after that boy and
fetch him back if he's to be found anywheres above ground! And if we
come across any more o' the same family trampin' around the country,
we'll bring them along home while we're about it, and see if we can't
get some sleep and some comfort out o' life. And the Missionary Society
can look somewheres else for money. There's plenty o' folks that don't
get good works set right down in their front yards for 'em to do. I'll
look out for the individyals for a spell, and let the other folks
support the societies!"

SCENE XV.

_Wilkins's Woods._

LIKE ALL DOGS IN FICTION THE FAITHFUL RAGS GUIDES MISS VILDA TO HIS
LITTLE MASTER.

Samantha ran out to the barn to hold the lantern and see that Jabe
didn't go to sleep while he was harnessing Maria. But he seemed
unusually "spry" for him, although he was conducting himself in a
somewhat strange and unusual manner. His loose figure shook from time to
time, as with severe chills; he seemed too weak to hold up the shafts,
and so he finally dropped them and hung round Maria's neck in a sort of
mild, speechless convulsion.

"What under the canopy ails you, Jabe Slocum?" asked Samantha. "I s'pose
it's one o' them everlastin' old addled jokes o' yourn you're tryin' to
hatch out, but it's a poor time to be jokin' now. What's the matter with
you?"

"'Ask me no questions 'n' I'll tell you no lies,' is an a