and a smothered voice said, 'Mother, is the water hot?'"

"'Yes, bilin',' answered the old woman; 'are the knives sharp?'"

"'All ready,' answered the young man; 'where's father?'"

"'He's gone to the loft,' said the old woman; and then came some
whispered words, which I could not catch. You will most probably laugh
at me, but my mind was now so worked up by all the agitation I had
experienced, that I had not the smallest doubt that we were now to be
murdered, and that the dreadful work was already going on in the loft,
my kind old friend being the first victim. Still I thought I might be in
time to save him yet, and there might be a bare possibility of our
escape. Springing from my bed in great haste and agitation, I hurried on
my shawl, and cautiously descended the ladder; but my blood froze with
horror, as just then I heard a piercing shriek. In the passage below I
encountered the old woman; she had just come into the house, and had an
old shawl over her head, and a lantern in her hand, I thought she gave a
guilty start when she saw me, as she exclaimed:"

"'Why, bless me, gal! what are you down at this time in the morning
for?'"

"'What are _you_ all up so early in the morning for?' I asked, in a
voice which I meant should strike terror to her heart."

"'Why, my old man and the boys had determined to kill hogs this
morning,' she answered; 'but we tried to keep so quiet as not to
disturb ye. I was afeared, though, that the squealing of the hogs would
wake ye.'"

"The relief was so sudden, that I could hardly refrain from putting my
arms round the old woman's neck, and confessing all my unjust
suspicions, but the fear of hurting her feelings prevented. With a
tranquil mind I again climbed the ladder, and sought my humble bed, and
was soon in such a sound slumber, that even the squealing of the hogs,
in their dying agonies, failed to rouse me."

"Seen by the morning light, as we were seated around the breakfast
table, these midnight robbers and murderers of my fancy appeared a
family of honest, hardy New Englanders, who had bought a tract of land
in Western Virginia. They showed us, at a little distance, a clearing
where they were just erecting a larger and more comfortable log
dwelling; and the old woman assured us that if we would stop and visit
them, if we ever passed that way again, we should not have to climb a
ladder, for they were going to have a 'reg'lar stairway in t'other
house.'"

"When the time c