Under the Storm

Bell and

twa bonn

a bower on

t o'er wi' ra

up by his side till the morning light was finding its

his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and givi

ugh the glen with a broom over her shoulder, and without the other children. Goody Grace had undertaken to keep them for the day, whilst Patience worked with her brother, and had further lent her the broom till she could make a

said Patience, "for w

returned her brother. "We had better take it up to some one in the

sighed Patience, whose mother's clea

ing into Bristol to buy one or to sell butter now. Hark! they are begi

girl sadly. "How could he like to go among all

have got someth

d; for the cell, though rude, was wonderfully strong, and the stone walls were very stout and thick, after the fashion of the middle ages. There was a large flat stone to serve as a hearth, and an opening at the top for smoke with a couple of big slaty stones bent towards one another over it as a break to the f

nd salted for the winter, the skins would serve for warmth. Patience arranged the bundles of straw with a neat bit of plaiting round

good father, the sense of which now and then rushed on them like a horrible, too true dream, Steadfast and Patience would almost have enjoyed the setting up for themselves and all their contrivances. Some losses, however, besides

hese made for him. As to the wheel, that must,

and not leave one stone on another, if Jeph and th

me we went into Bristol, when he had been talking to the butter-merchant's man. He said the townsfolk

hting and they will not hurt Jeph," said

y. Maybe they are making

o busy! But Stead, how shall we get the things?

e exclaimed "Have you any, Stead?

im with the bulk of the savings, in case of need,

tty," he added. "You told no lie,

l," cried Patience. "He would not

nd would not tell her. And then he warned her, with all his might and main against giving a hint to anyone

about it, and you don't think I woul

't you see, if you know nothing,

ed that the cave where they used to play should serve for the poultry, so as to save them from the foxes and polec

tience, with a little laugh

," and therewith Stead told in

hurch! O no, Stead, I'll never tell till good Mr. Holworth

e thought but

o the place," he said, "nor s

an," said Patience. "And I shall

ld find safe shelter from the enemies that lurked in the wood, and ended by an

t; when Patience went to fetch them, she heard that the cessation of firing had really been

re fighting," she anxious

n tell," h

l Jeph c

indeed someone else spoke to him, an

away, and was frightened at turning into so lonely a path through the hazel stems, trotting afte

of dry leaves and half-burnt wood to serve as tinder. The fire for cooking would be outside, whenever warmth and weather served, to prevent indoor smoke. And to Patience's eyes it really looked pleasant and comfortable, with Toby sitting wisely by his young master's side, and

ut Patience, who knew better how to deal with her, let her finish her cry, and come creeping back, promising to be good, and gla

ir hut, curled themselves up upon their straw and went to sleep, while Toby lay watchful at the d

ad been forced to leave to take care of themselves. Horse, donkey, and cows were all safe round their hut; but he could find only three of the young

of themselves and seemed glad to see him. He drove them down to their new home, and fed them there with some of the injure

have pigs in here? No,

ed and salted, and nothing left but the sow, who was a cunning old animal, and could pretty well take care of herse

he salt in such days as these?

saved him as to disposing of his pigs. They were quite gone next time he looked for them, and the poor old sow had been lamed by a shot; but did not seem seriously

ion there for hay and straw. They had used no violence, but the farmers were compelled to take it into the camp in their own waggons, getting nothing in payment but or