10S BEllTITA^S VISTT TO HKR 



the arch, and plying her distaff diligently while 

 the tears fell from her eyes. In reply to his in- 

 quiries as to the cause of her grief, she timidly 

 told him, that her poor old father had been so 

 ill that he could earn nothing for many weeks ; 

 and having already been reduced to sell every 

 thing but his house, he was totally unable to pay 

 one of the heavy taxes which was now demanded 

 from him. She had, therefore, been spinning 

 spinning for ever with her distaff, but all in 

 vain ; her yarn was not ready, they must pay the 

 tax without delay, and to do so she must part 

 with the only treasure she possessed : that was 

 the cause of her sorrow ; and she had retired to 

 that little arch to avoid the sun, and to conceal 

 her tears from her father. 



" ' For that one thing, I can get money enough,' 

 said she, ' but how can I part with it ! It was 

 once the Bible of Henri Arnaud ; my grand- 

 mother gave it to me, saying, " Never, never part 

 with this precious book, Janetta." But, what can 

 I do ?' and her tears burst out afresh. * I must 

 sell Henri Arnaud J s bible, or my father will 

 have no house to shelter himT 



" Mr. Maude asked her to guide him to her 

 father's cottage. She took him by a winding 

 path which led from the arch, to a very poor 

 little chalet, overhung by chesnut trees. The 

 old man was seated on a bench at his door; and 

 Mr. Maude, placing himself at his side, and en- 



