54 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



I am called Yes, quite ready. Good day, 

 dear mamma. 



Well, mamma, evening has come, and I have 

 but little to tell you about our Christinas visit to 

 Farmer Moreland and his dame, which was hap- 

 pily accomplished ; but a great deal to tell you 

 about Wentworth and Frederick, and their ad- 

 ventures. When they had ridden about a mile, 

 they were stopped by a. little boy, who came run- 

 ning from a lane in the wood, crying piteously, 

 " Mother, mother, oh ! come to mother!" To all 

 their questions he gave no other answer but 

 " Come to mother ; oh ! do come, she is a dying.' 3 

 The child was a very little creature, and seemed 

 scarcely to know any other' words. 



My cousins, without hesitation, or any thought 

 about their ride, determined to follow the child, 

 who, though he could not say much, knew very 

 well what to do. He led them along one of the 

 green lanes a considerable distance into the wood, 

 and there they found his poor mother lying, 

 without any other shelter than that of a large 

 spreading holly without blanket or covering 

 her head resting on a little bundle, and looking 

 deadly pale. The child ran towards her, and 

 gently patting her face, cried, " Here, mother; 

 look, look." 



As Wentworth approached, she opened her 

 eyes, and seeing a benevolent countenance, 

 smiled faintly. She tried to raise herself, but 



