Year: 1877

| VI WhSClCI! Dub low CQduSSQ from The
morning! Covered with dust, his
clothes torn, his brown curls all tangled
and matted with the blood that had
soaked through a handkerchief bound
round his head, and one arm in sling.
I wouldn't have known him And when
he spoke his voice sounded hoarse and
broken.


"' Ruth, he said, I insulted you this
morning, and insulted your brother. My
father has wronged yours in thousand
ways, I know. I never thought one of
our family would have entered your
doors again, yet now I come to you to
help me in my sore need. Our forces
are beaten and flying; the enemy are in
hot chase; I have dragged myself away
with my life only; I can go no further;
in Gods name shelter me till the pnr-
suit is over for my mothers sake,
Ruth 7


"I held my breath at his words. In
one flashing moment the memory of all
we had suffered at his fathers hands,
his insolent conduct in the N orning,
rose up before me. I could have found
it III my heart to turn him away almost
with curses !-and yet something made
me pause.


"'Stand here in the porch, I said at
last, half choked with the bitterness of
| the inward strife. 'Thee has put hard
thing before me, Abiel Wheeler. I
must have time-a moment to think
what I Will do and turning away from
him I darted into the house. |


"'What ought I to do2' I cried
aloud in my perple1ity. Il am alone
here. He is a bold fellow o dare I,
ought to take him in? It may not be
true that they are pursuing him. But
even as I spoke the wind bore the sound
of galloping hoofs ON the clear air, and
AbieIs despairing voice cried to me
from the porch, Make haste, o dear
Ruth in pity make haste. am so faint
with loss of blood can scarcely stand
or see.'


Scarce knowing what did, the sud-
den thought came to me, will take the
Bible, and whatsoever verse my eye
falls on shall be my guide; and, hastily
opening the great book that lay on my
fathers table, I bent over it in the gath
ering darkness.


Children, read these words But
I say unto you, love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, and do good unto
them that despitefully use you and per-
secute you


..It was enough. I went out to the
porch. Come, Abiel Wheeler said;
'thee shall have the shelter of my
fathers roof, and I Will save thee if I
cam


''He looked up gratefully in my face,
and without another word let him rest
his arm about my shoulders, and so
helped him, half fainting as he was, up
stairs into the garret. A kind of closet
had been partitioned off from the slop-
ing gable end, the only entrance to
which was the space of one plank that
could be slipped out of place and then
put back, leaving no opening visible.
Ny father had made it a hiding place
for valuables in those troubled times.
In this narrow, sitting corner I con-
cealed the son of my fathers enemy,
replaced the plank, flew down stairs
and bolted the front door just in time,
as party of troopers in British uniform
dashed up to the porch. 81.


"tIn the Kings name y shouted the
officer who led them and, dismount ting,
he hammered on the Intel with the butt
of his pistol f.tf


Trembling like leaf, I unbolted
the upper half of the door.


"'What does thee want, friend?' I
said, and the very desperation of the
moment made my voice calm.


Entrance, in the Kings name 7 he
shouted. we have sure information
that one of the most active of these
cursed rebels has fled in this direction,
and may have sought shelter in this
house. 1 claim the right to search it
and make him prisoner if he is to be
found.


"sFriend, thee sees 1 am alone here,
I said, "a defenseless girl, and thee
knows the Quakers are men of peace.
But enter if thee will. I am not afraid
to show every room in my fathers
house. --14 ~ 4zs -


"'Don't fear, we won't harm you, my
pretty MISTRESS he answered, smiling,
Only get candle, and make haste, for
we are something of the busiest while
these fellows are at large.


Children, thee can imagine what I
felt as I undid the door, with the sacred
trust had accepted on my soul-Abiel's
life in my hands everything depending
Oh my keeping calm, and showing no
hesitation in my compliance with the
soldiers demand But God strengthened
| me in the hour of trial. TRANQUILITY
Lit candle and led those rough men
through the house, shouting their ribald
iests, singing, insolently peering into
every closet and nook, with coarse COM
ments ON what they saw.


".There seems to be nothing suspi-
cious here, said the officer at last. we
may as well draw off, men; this young
girl looks pale and weary and he turned
to me with more courtesy than would
have thought he could show.


"'H you please, Captain, said one of
the men, touching his cap, we haven't
searched the gdrret yet.