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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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CHAPTER 17The Freeman’s DefenceTHERE was a gentle bustle at the Quaker house, as the afternoon drew to a close. Rachel Halliday moved quietly to and fro, collecting from her household stores such needments as could be arranged in the smallest compass, for the wan- derers who were to go forth that night. The afternoon shadows stretched east- ward, and the round red sun stood thoughtfully on the horizon, and his beams shone yellow and calm into the little bedroom where George and his wife were sit- ting. He was sitting with his child on his knee, and his wife’s hand in his. Both looked thoughtful and serious, and traces of tears were on their cheeks. “Yes, Eliza,” said George, “I know all you say is true. You are a good child,- a great deal better than I am; and I will try to do as you say. I’ll try to act worthy of a free man. I’ll try to feel like a Christian. God Almighty knows that I’ve meant to do well,- tried hard to do well,- when everything has been against me; and now I’ll forget all the past, and put away every hard and bitter feeling, and read my Bi- ble, and learn to be a good man.” “And when we get to Canada,” said Eliza, “I can help you. I can do dressmak- ing very well; and I understand fine washing and ironing; and between us we can find something to live on.” |
