Before the cottage door stood Reuben"s light wagon, in which were packed the trunks with their wearing apparel, the hamper with their luncheon, and all the little light effects which required care. Into this Gray placed Hannah and Ishmael, taking the driver"s seat himself. A heavier wagon behind this one contained all Hannah"s household furniture, including her loom and wheel and Ishmael"s home-made desk and book-shelf, and in the driver"s seat sat the negro man who had come down in attendance upon the overseer.
The Professor of Odd Jobs stood in the door of the hut, with his hat in his hand, waving adieu to the departing travelers. The professor had come by appointment to see them off and take the key of the hut to the overseer at the Hall.
The sun was just rising above the heights of Brudenell Hall and flooding all the vale with light. The season was very forward, and, although the month was March, the weather was like that of April. The sky was of that clear, soft, bright blue of early spring; the sun shone with dazzling splendor; the new gra.s.s was springing up everywhere, and was enameled with early violets and snow-drops; the woods were budding with the tender green of young vegetation. Distant, sunny hills, covered with apple or peach orchards all in blossom, looked like vast gardens of mammoth red and white rose trees.
Even to the aged spring brings renewal of life, but to the young--not even poets have words at command to tell what exhilaration, what ecstatic rapture, it brings to the young, who are also sensitive and sympathetic.
Ishmael was all these; his delicate organization was susceptible of intense enjoyment or suffering. He had never in his life been five miles from his native place; he had just risen from a sick-bed as from a grave; he was going to penetrate a little beyond his native round of hills, and see what was on the other side; the morning was young, the season was early, the world was fresh; this day seemed a new birth to Ishmael; this journey a new start in his life; he intensely enjoyed it all; to him all was delightful: the ride through the beautiful, green, blossoming woods; the glimpses of the blue sky through the quivering upper leaves; the shining of the sun; the singing of the birds; the fragrance of the flowers.
To him the waving trees seemed bending in worship, the birds trilling hymns of joy, and the flowers wafting offerings of incense! There are times when earth seems heaven and all nature worshipers. Ishmael was divinely happy; even the lost image of Claudia reappeared now surrounded with a halo of hope, for to-day aspirations seemed prophecies, will seemed power, and all things possible. And not on Ishmael alone beamed the blessed influence of the spring weather. Even Hannah"s care-worn face was softened into contentment and enjoyment. As for Reuben"s honest phiz, it was a sight to behold in its perfect satisfaction. Even the negro driver of the heavy wagon let his horses take their time as he raised his ear to catch some very delicate trill in a bird"s song, or turned his head to inhale the perfume from some bank of flowers.
Onward they journeyed at their leisure through all that glad morning landscape.
At noon they stopped at a clearing around a cool spring in the woods, and while the negro fed and watered the horses, they rested and refreshed themselves with a substantial luncheon, and then strolled about through the shades until "Sam" had eaten his dinner, re-packed the hamper, and put the horses to the wagons again. And then they all returned to their seats and recommenced their journey.
On and on they journeyed through the afternoon; deeper and deeper they descended into the forest as the sun declined in the west. When it was on the edge of the horizon, striking long golden lines through the interstices of the woods, Hannah grew rather anxious, and she spoke up:
"It seems to me, Reuben, that we have come ten miles since we saw a house or a farm."
"Yes, my dear. We are now in the midst of the old forest of Prince George"s, and our home is yet about five miles off. But don"t be afraid, Hannah, woman; you have got me with you, and we will get home before midnight."
"I am only thinking of the runaway negroes, Reuben; they all take refuge in these thick woods, you know; and they are a very desperate gang; their hands against everybody and everybody"s hands against them, you may say."
"True, Hannah; they are desperate enough, for they have everything to fear and nothing to hope, in a meeting with most of the whites; but there is no danger to us, child."
"I don"t know; they murdered a harmless peddler last winter, and attacked a peaceable teamster this spring."
"Still, my dear, there is no danger; we have a pair of double-barreled pistols loaded, and also a blunderbuss; and we are three men, and you are as good as a fourth; so don"t be afraid."
Hannah was silenced, if not rea.s.sured.
They journeyed on at a rate as fast as the rather tired horses could be urged to make. When the sun had set it grew dark, very dark in the forest. There was no moon; and although it was a clear, starlight night, yet that did not help them much. They had to drive very slowly and carefully to avoid accidents, and it was indeed midnight when they drove up to the door of Hannah"s new home. It was too dark to see more of it than that it was a two-storied white cottage with a vine-clad porch, and that it stood in a garden on the edge of the wood.
CHAPTER x.x.xVII.
THE NEW HOME.
It is a quiet picture of delight, The humble cottage, hiding from the sun In the thick woods. You see it not till then, When at its porch. Rudely, but neatly wrought, Four columns make its entrance; slender shafts, The rough bark yet upon them, as they came From the old forest. Prolific vines Have wreathed them well and half obscured the rinds Original, that wrap them. Crowding leaves Or glistening green, and cl.u.s.tering bright flowers Of purple, in whose cups, throughout the day, The humming bird wantons boldly, wave around And woo the gentle eye and delicate touch.
This is the dwelling, and "twill be to them Quiet"s especial temple.
--_W.G. Simms_.
"Welcome home, Hannah! welcome home, dearest woman! No more hard work now, Hannah! and no more slaving at the everlasting wheel and loom!
Nothing to do but your own pretty little house to keep, and your own tidy servant girl to look after! And no more anxiety about the future, Hannah; for you have me to love you and care for you! Ah, dear wife!
this is a day I have looked forward to through all the gloom and trouble of many years. Thank G.o.d, it has come at last, more blessed than I ever hoped it would be, and I welcome you home, my wife!" said Reuben Gray, as he lifted his companion from the wagon, embraced her, and led her through the gate into the front yard.
"Oh, you dear, good Reuben, what a nice, large house this is! so much better than I had any reason to expect," said Hannah, in surprise and delight.
"You"ll like it better still by daylight, my dear," answered Gray.
"How kind you are to me, dear Reuben."
"It shall always be my greatest pleasure to be so, Hannah."
A negro girl at this moment appeared at the door with a light, and the husband and wife entered the house.
Ishmael sprang down from his seat, stretched his cramped limbs, and gazed about him with all the curiosity and interest of a stranger in a strange scene.
The features of the landscape, as dimly discerned by starlight, were simple and grand.
Behind him lay the deep forest from which they had just emerged. On its edge stood the white cottage, surrounded by its garden. Before him lay the open country, sloping down to the banks of a broad river, whose dark waves glimmered in the starlight.
So this was Judge Merlin"s estate--and Claudia"s birthplace!
"Well, Ishmael, are you waiting for an invitation to enter? Why, you are as welcome as Hannah herself, and you couldn"t be more so!" exclaimed the hearty voice of Reuben Gray, as he returned almost immediately after taking Hannah in.
"I know it, Uncle Reuben. You are very good to me; and I do hope to make myself very useful to you," replied the boy.
"You"ll be a fortun" to me, lad--an ample fortun" to me! But why don"t you go in out of the midnight air? You ain"t just as strong as Samson, yet, though you"re agwine to be," said Gray cheerily.
"I only stopped to stretch my limbs, and--to help in with the luggage,"
said Ishmael, who was always thoughtful, practical, and useful, and who now stopped to load himself with Hannah"s baskets and bundles before going into the house.
"Now, then, Sam," said Gray, turning to the negro, "look sharp there!
Bring in the trunks and boxes from the light wagon; take the furniture from the heavy one, and pile it in the shed, where it can stay until morning; put both on "em under cover, feed and put up the horses; and then you can go to your quarters."
The negro bestirred himself to obey these orders, and Reuben Gray and Ishmael entered the cottage garden.
They pa.s.sed up a gravel walk bordered each side with lilac bushes, and entered by a vine-shaded porch into a broad pa.s.sage, that ran through the middle of the house from the front to the back door.
"There are four large rooms on this floor, Ishmael, and this is the family sitting room," said Gray, opening a door on his right.
It was a very pleasant front room, with a bright paper on its walls, a gay homespun carpet on the floor; pretty chintz curtains at the two front windows; chintz covers of the same pattern on the two easy-chairs and the sofa; a bright fire burning in the open fireplace, and a neat tea-table set out in the middle of the floor.
But Hannah was nowhere visible.
"She has gone in her room, Ishmael, to take off her bonnet; it is the other front one across the pa.s.sage, just opposite to this; and as she seems to be taking of her time, I may as well show you your"n, Ishmael.
Just drop them baskets down anywhere, and come with me, my lad," said Gray, leading the way into the pa.s.sage and up the staircase to the second floor. Arrived there, he opened a door, admitting himself and his companion into a chamber immediately over the sitting-room.
"This is your"n, Ishmael, and I hope as you"ll find it comfortable and make yourself at home," said Reuben, hastily, as he introduced Ishmael to this room.
It was more rudely furnished than the one below. There was no carpet except the strip laid down by the bedside; the bed itself was very plain, and covered with a patchwork quilt; the two front windows were shaded with dark green paper blinds; and the black walnut bureau, washstand, and chairs were very old. Yet all was scrupulously clean; and everywhere were evidences that the kindly care of Reuben Gray had taken pains to discover Ishmael"s habits and provide for his necessities. For instance, just between the front windows stood an old-fashioned piece of furniture, half book-case and half writing-desk, and wholly convenient, containing three upper shelves well filled with books, a drawer full of stationery, and a closet for waste paper.
Ishmael walked straight up to this.