Constance Sherwood, Chapter I-II [pp. 78-96]

Constance Sherwood.
t
would still be a-prattling on it, and of your re
telling all who came in his way that beds such
he was going to France to a good ligion; so
uncle; nor ever intended to return, for is naught
his mother was to carry him to La "My g
Rochelle, and she should stay there swered,"
with him, he said, and not come back durance fi
to ugly Lichfield. so manife
"And art thou not sorry, Jack," I Almighty
asked him one day, "to leave poor Ed- deliveranc
mund, who loves thee so well?" escape."
The little madcap was coursing After t]
round the room, and cried, as he ran my father
past me, for he had more wit and working, a
spirit than sense or manners: intent as
"Edmund must seek after me, and were shin
take pains to find me, if so be he would azure of t]
have me." of greatel
These words, which the boy said in shone thro
his play, have often come back to my tree, wher
mind since the two brothers have at- before, he
tained unto a happy though dissimilar who was s
end. window:
When the time had arrived for Mis- "Cousir
tress Genings and her youngest son Star of 1
to go beyond seas, as I was now im- the skies t
proved in health and able to walk, my just risen
father fetched me home, and prevailed What and
on Mr. Genings to let Edmund go for us!"
back with us, with the intent to divert My fat]
his mind from his grief at his brother's "I was ev
departure. the words
I found my parents greatly dis- true religi
turbed at the news they had had the starry
touching the imprisonment of thirteen where thoe
priests on account of religion, and of more sple
Mr. Orton being likewise arrested, heavens,
who was a gentleman very dear to and then
them for his great virtues and the Latin frox
steadfast friendship he had ever shown "Raising
to them. degrees th
My mother questioned Edmund as the very
to the sign he had seen in the heavens moon and
a short time back, of which the report Yea, we s5
had reached them; and he confirming musing an
the truth thereof, she clasped her God's wor
hands and cried: minds and
"Then I fear me much this fore- arrive at
bodes the death of these blessed con- plenty wh4
lessors, Father Weston and the rest." ever with
Upon which Edmund said, in a words had
humble manner: them whic
"Good IMistress Sherwood, my dear strain of r
mother thought it signified that those wind-harp
91
ligion would murder in their
as are of the queen's remaybe in both cases there
to apprehend."
)od child," my mother anin regard of those now in
or their faith, the danger is
st, that if it please not the
to work a miracle for their
e, I see not how they may
at we sat awhile in silence;
reading, my mother and I
nd Edmund at the window
usual upon the stars, which
ing one by one in the deep
he darkening sky. As one
r brightness than the rest
ugh the branches of the old
e I used to hide some years
pointed to it, and said to me,
itting nearest to hire at the
Constance, think you the
~ethlehem showed fairer in
han yon bright star that has
behind your favorite oak?
if that' star had a message
her heard him, and smiled.
en then," he said, " reading
of one who was led to the
ion by the contemplation of
skies. In a Southern clime,
se fair luminaries shine with
ndor than in our Northern
t. Augustine wrote thus;"
he read a few sentences in
n the book in his hand,ourselves up, we passed by
rough all things bodily, even
heavens, whence sun and
stars shine upon the earth.
oared yet higher by inward
d discourse and admiring of
ks, and we came to our own
went beyond them, so as to
that region of never-failing
ere thou feedest Israel for
the food of truth." These
a sweet and solemn force in
:h struck on the ear like a
inearthly music, such as the
wakes in the silence of the