Carried Off

illuminated with quivering golden light the calm waters that surrounded green, mar

p a slight hill, and, shading his eyes, looked intently out towards Canvey a

nd Saxon prisoners, till King Alfred came down upon him, pulled down the rover's fortress, seized his wife and his two sons, and relieved the neighbourhood of this Da

stress from one of his parishioners at the end of the evening service, had now come to enjoy the view from H?sten's hill. As he walked slowly towards the immovable form of the boy, he could not help being struck by the lad's graceful outline; the lithe, yet strongly built figure, the well-balanced head, now thrown back as the eyes sought the distant horizon;

n though a smile of pleasure parted his lips as he noted th

e keeping you so unusually still?' Harry started and bl

--I came here to have a look at our

laughed goo

felt at this moment as if he had told a lie, and had been found out by Mr. Aylett, wh

e lad added, 'in truth I had forgotten al

o battle and fought for the King, and that some even had been settlers in the old days of Queen Bess, and that, when all is said and done, it wants a great deal of self-denial to stay as thou art now doing

he boy a great deal more learning than usually fell to the lot of a yeoman's son in those days, even though Mr. Fenn farmed his own land, was well-to-do, and could, had he so willed, have sent his son to Oxford; but he himself had been reared on Pitsea Farm, had married there, and there he h

the lad was as good as he was brave; he knew that he must crush down his desire, or at least that he must not show it to his parents; but he did not try to resist the pleasure of indulging in thoughts of a larger life, tho

that I must break loose from here or die. I know it was wicked, and I will conquer the feeling, but it seems as if the devil himself tempts me to forget my duty; and worse,' added poor Harry, who having begun his confession thought he would make a clean breast of it

frail chance of Mr. Aylett's agreement depended his life's h

but we who lived through the late troublous times see farther than young heads, who are easily persuaded to cozen their conscience according to their wishes. And if you travelled, Harry, temptations and trials would follow too, and be but troublesome companions; and further, there would be always a worm gnawing at your heart when

membered he was but sixteen years old, and that many a year must most likely elapse before he became the owner of Pitsea Farm and could do as he pleased, and that those years must be filled with dull routine labour, where little room was left for any adventure beyond fishing in the creek, or going over to Canvey Island to watch when the high waves broke over the new embankments ma

the less great because it was one not seen of men. He was to give up his will, the hardest thing a man or a boy can do;

h a quick lifting of his head, and a new hopeful light in his blue eyes very different from the unsatisfied longing gaze of ten m

e wishing brings me no happiness, so

asped the lad

ou. Come to me to-morrow, and I will show you a new book a fri

White Star should be driven in under shelter to-night. Our man Fiske has met with an acciden

rine's Church on Canvey. There is a young clergyman come there to see if he will accept the cure, and I know you will row me over.' Harry promised gladly, and then Mr. Aylett with ano