84 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OP 



aud walked out to the fence to wait for her. She saw me, 

 and, with her mother, hurried to meet me. The old lady 

 had bundled up her clothes, together with two plates, two 

 knives and forks, two cups and saucers, two tin-cups, and 

 two spoons ; which were all rolled up in Mary's clothes 

 and placed in a woven basket. The old lady looked seri- 

 ous, but remained firm. Poor little Mary's heart, how- 

 ever, was so overcharged that she could not keep back her 

 tears, which flowed abundantly until we came in sight of 

 my mother's ; when we sat down, and she gave utterance 

 to her feelings in these words : 



" Oh, my hard-hearted father, I have never given you 

 any reason to treat me so cruelly ! But my heart loved, 

 and you did not feel it ; nor yet do you consider my situa- 

 tion. Oh hard and cruel father ! " 



This was too much for me : our tears mingled plentifully 

 together. And at this moment the thought of that hour 

 brings them into my eyes, so that I have frequently to drop 

 my pen and wipe them away ; for the narration of this 

 event, although it occurred sixty years ago, so plainly re- 

 calls all the attendant circumstances to my mind, that it 

 seems to me I can see her, and hear every word she then 

 uttered. 



But after she had got a little the better of her feelings, 

 I took her hand, and said to her, " My dearest wife, you 

 know I love you as well as you ever could love me ; and 

 although your father has no sympathy with our feelings, 

 the world is wide, and kind Providence will not let us suffer 

 if we put ourselves under his protection. Mary, I am 

 strong and active, and we can make our living without his 

 help. You don't know but that he may yet be compelled 

 to come to you for sympathy." 



" Well, Meshach, if such a thing ever should happeii, 1 

 will never mention his cruel treatment to me this day ; 

 would you ? " 



