Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-02-20
The Faithful Guest;
OR, 4 NIGHT OF DAGER.

lhefe WAS sOllellllIS-I 1Orget
what-to take grandfather and grand
mother away from home one day in
O.tober of the year l lived with them
in Burns Hollow. 1t may have been
funeral or some religious meeting,
for they both drove off dressed in their
best, in the gig, with old Ajax har-
messed to it, and after | had tucked in
grandmas iron gray silk skirt and ran
back to the house for grandpas spect-
acles and had seen the Gig vanish in
the distance ] felt. lonely. Burns
Hollow was q lonesome place at all
times; and the handsome rambling
mansion, which might have sheltered
a regiment, had a costly air about it
when one walked through the upper
rooms alone,
There were but two servants in the
kitchen, Hannah Oaks and the Irish
lad, Anthony. | heard them laugh
ing merily together, for, though
Hannah was an old woman, she was
full of fun, and in five minutes the
door opened, and Hannah came with
the tray.
"Please, miss, said she, as she sci it
down, ''may | run over to Mapleton
tonight ? My sisters daughter had
a boy last night they say, and want
to see it nat'rally-its the first I've
ever had Of grand niece or nephew"
"Who brought the news ?" | asked.
"Authony, mis-, said Hannah. "Ho
met George-that's my niece's hus-
band-when he was out after the
COW, straying as she always is, and
told him to tell Hannah she's Il grand
aunt.
You may GO said, shut don't
stay late. Grandpa and grandma may
be away all night, and | feel nervous.
To be sure there is Anthony, but l
never rely on him. BE certain not
to stay late" | repeated this injunc-
ton with sort of fright stealing over
me-a Rgesentiment of evil, | might
say-andsemething prompted me to
add, "Be back by nine Why: | can
not say but | felt as if, at nine, l
should be in some peculiar danger
Hannah promised, and after doing
all that Irequired went away, and |
heard her heavy shoes on the garden
walk, outside,
Early as it was, | had dropped the
curtains and lighted the wax candles
on the mantel, and | sat long over my
tea, finding certain companionshipI
in it, as women Of all ages will.
sat thus a long time, and was
startled from my reverie by q rap at
the door-a timid sort Of rap so that
| knew at once that it was neither Il
member Of the house nor an intimate
friend. waited expecting Anthony
to answer the door, but finding he did
not, went to it myself
1t had grown quite dark, and the
moon rose late that night. At first
could only make out a crouching
figure at the bottom of the porch.
But when | spoke it advanced, and by
the light of the hall lamp I saw a
black man. had always had a sort
Of fear of a negro, and instinctively
shrunk away. but as l did so he spoke
in husky whisper: "This is, Massa
Morton's isn't it?'
"les,' | replied, ''but grandfather
is out"
| retreated he advanced.
'Please, miss" he said, Judge B.
sent me here. He said massa I'D help |
me on. Let me stay here night,
miss. Is trabbled five days since /
left him. Hidin' like. Use awful
hungry, pears like I'd drop, and ole
maSs;.s arter me. For the lub of
heaben, miss, let me hide somewhere's
and glib me jes' a crust. Massa Judge
promise MassS Morton nd help me an
it's kept me up. Nlissus will, | know.
| knew that grandfather had given
succor to some Of these poor wretches
before; but | felt that | might be
dong wrong by admitting stranger
in his absence.
Caution and pity struggled within
me. AT last | said: "You have
note from the Judge l suppose, sir?"
Il had some writin on Il paper"
said the man, "but Is lost it de night
1t rained so. All! miss, Is tellin' the.
truff-Judge sent me, sure as Is
sinner. Is been helped along so far,
and pears like mus get to Canady.
Can't 50 back noways. Wife's dare,
and de young ms. Got clear year
ago. Miss, I'll pray for you ebery
day oS my life efyou'll ies' be so good
to me. Tank you MISS
For somehow, when he spoke of
wife and children, had stepped back
and let him in.
1t was the back hall door to which
the rap had come, and the kitchen
was close at hand | led him thither.
When saw how worn he was, how
wretched, how his eyes glistened, and
how under his rough blue shirt his
heart beat so that you could count the
pulses, | forgot my caution. / brought
out cold meat and bread, drew a mug
of cider, and spread them on the table.
The negro ate voraciously as only
starving man could eat, and / left him
to find Anthony, to whom l intended
to give directions for his lodging
throughout the night.
To my surprise, Anthony was now.
where about the house or garden.
Hannah must have taken him with