If it were your Harry, mother, or your Willie, that were
going to be torn from you by a brutal trader, to-morrow
morning, -- if you had seen the man, and heard that the
papers were signed and delivered, and you had only from
twelve o'clock till morning to make good your escape, --
how fast could you walk? How many miles could you
make in those few brief hours, with the darling at your
bosom, -- the little sleepy head on your shoulder, -- the
small, soft arms trustingly holding on to your neck?

For the child slept. At first, the novelty and alarm
kept him waking; but his mother so hurriedly repressed
every breath or sound, and so assured him that if he were
only still she would certainly save hint, that he clung
quietly round her neck, only asking, as he found himself
sinking to sleep, --

"Mother, I don't need to keep awake, do I?"

"No, my darling; sleep, if you want to."

"But, mother, if I do get asleep, you won't let him get
me?"

"No! so may God help me!" said his mother, with a
paler cheek and a brighter light in her large, dark eyes.

"You 're sure, an't you, mother?"

"Yes, sure!" said the mother, in a voice that startled
herself; for it seemed to her to come from a spirit within,
that was no part of her; and the boy dropped his little
weary head on her shoulder and was soon asleep. How
the touch of those warm arms, and gentle breathings that
came in her neck, seemed to add fire and spirit to her move-
ments. It seemed to her as if strength poured into her in
electric streams, from every gentle touch and movement
of the sleeping, confiding child. Sublime is the dominion of
the mind over the body, that, for a time, can make flesh and
nerve impregnable, and string the sinews like steel, so that
the weak become so mighty.

The boundaries of the farm, the grove, the wood-lot,
passed by her dizzily, as she walked on; and still she went,
leaving one familiar object after another, slacking not,
pausing not, till reddening daylight found her many a long
mile from all traces of any familiar objects upon the open
highway.

She had often been, with her mistress, to visit some con-
nections, in the little village of T ------, not far from the

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