principal street of
the small village of Walden. Although her dress was extremely plain, yet
there was a certain air of refinement about her which informed the
observer that she had once occupied a position very different from what
was indicated by her present appearance. The little boy by her side was
indeed a child of surpassing beauty. His complexion was clear and fair,
and a profusion of dark brown hair clustered in thick curls around his
full white brow. His childish features were lighted up by large and
expressive eyes of a dark hazel color. He was a child which the most
careless observer would hardly pass by without turning to gaze a second
time upon his wondrous beauty.

I have been thus particular in describing the little boy as he is to be
the principal actor in the simple scenes of my story.

As they walked slowly forward the woman addressed the child in a voice
that was weak and tremulous from fatigue, saying,--

"We must call at some house and seek a shelter for the night, for indeed
I am unable to walk further."

It required not this remark from her to satisfy the beholder of her
inability to proceed, for extreme fatigue and exhaustion were visible in
her every motion.

She approached the door of a handsome dwelling situated in the central
portion of the village, and rang the bell. The door was opened by an
elderly-looking man, who accosted her civilly and seemed waiting for her
to make known her errand.

In a low and timid voice the woman asked him if he would allow herself
and child to rest for the night beneath his roof?

He replied, in a voice that was decidedly gruff and crusty,--

"There are two hotels in the village; we keep no travellers here," and
immediately closed the door in her face.

Could he have seen the forlorn expression that settled on her
countenance when, on regaining the street, she took her little boy by
the hand and again walked slowly onward--his heart must indeed have been
hard if he had not repented of his unkindness.

After walking a short distance further, the woman paused before a house
of much humbler appearance than the former one, and, encouraged by the
motherly appearance of an elderly lady who sat knitting at her open door
in the lingering twilight, she drew nigh to her, and asked if she would
shelter herself and child for the night.

The old lady regarded her earnestly for a moment; she seemed, however,
to be impressed favorably by her appearance, for her vo