34 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



knew that the ferryman could do them service, and the 

 surrounding country offered no inducement to remain. 

 During the whole day, and partly through the night, did 

 Osmund row backwards and forwards across the river, 

 ferrying troops of those fierce men, who fled from the 

 avenging arm of Alfred ; and when the last company was 

 put on shore, you might have seen Osmund kneeling beside 

 the river's brink, and returning heartfelt thanks to heaven 

 for the preservation of his wife and child. 



Often, in after years, did Osmund speak of that day's peril; 

 and his fair child, grown up to womanhood, called the tall 

 fern by her father's name. And not only was it called 

 Osmund, from love to him, but Royal also, that none, in 

 passing, might forget to pray for the good king who de- 

 livered his country from the cruel aggressions of the Danes. 

 Often, too, when years had silvered his once dark locks, did 

 Osmund sit on the old stone beside his cottage, with his 

 grandchildren round him, telling them about the cruel 

 Danes, and how their mother, when a young child, was con- 



