, and sufferings, its
a consolation to us, that we never neglected to praise an' worship the
Almighty--we are now brought almost to the very last pass--let us go to
our knees, then, an' throw ourselves upon His mercy, and beg of Him to
support us, an' if it's His holy will, to aid us, and send us relief."

"Oh, Mary dear," exclaimed her husband, "but you are the valuable and
faithful wife! If ever woman was a protectin' angel to man, you wor to
me. Come children, in the name of the merciful God, let us kneel and
pray."

The bleak and depressing aspect of twilight had now settled down upon
the sweltering and deluged country, and the air was warm, thick, moist,
and consequently unhealthy. The cabin of the Daltons was placed in a
low, damp situation; but fortunately it was approached by a remnant of
one of those old roads or causeways which had once been peculiar to the
remote parts of the country, and also of very singular structure, the
least stone in it being considerably larger than a shilling loaf. This
causeway was nearly covered with grass, so that in addition to the
antique and desolate appearance which this circumstance gave it, the
footsteps of a passenger could scarcely be heard as they fell upon the
thick close grass with which its surface was mostly covered.

Along this causeway, then, at the very hour when the Daltons, moved by
that piety which is characteristic of our peasantry, had gone to prayer,
was the strange woman whom we have already noticed, proceeding with that
relief which it may be God in His goodness had ordained should reach
them in answer to the simple but trustful spirit of their supplications.
On reaching the miserable looking cabin, she paused, listened, and heard
their voices blend in those devout tones that always mark the utterance
of prayer among the people. They were, in fact, repeating a Rosary, and
surely, it is not for those who differ with them in creed, or for any
one who feel the influence of true charity, to quarrel with the form
of prayer, when the heart is moved as theirs were, by earnestness and
humble piety.

The strange woman on approaching the door more nearly, stood again for a
minute or two, having been struck more forcibly by something which
gave a touching and melancholy character to this simple act of domestic
worship. She observed, for instance, that their prayers were blended
with many sighs, and from time to time, a groan escaped from one of
the males, which ind