Under the Storm

ome may such

e too the

duties o

churn, spinning wheel, and the few tools that he most needed; but it was not soon that Patience coul

breaking them; and Patience had to take them out of her hands and herself

aten fresh, as a wonderful Sunday treat, the rest was either disposed of among the neighbours, who took it in exchange for food of other kinds; or else was salted and dried for the winter's fare, laid up in bran in two great crocks which Stead had been forced to purchase, and which with planks from the half-burn

also saved for the animals' winter food, and a few turnips, but these were rare and uncommon articles only used by the most advanc

cut, and as, of course, Master Brown had chosen the finest weather, every one went in fear and trembling for their own, and Oates

ery hard cheese, and bowls of hasty pudding, with thin, sour small beer to wash it down. Oates growled and vowed he would never come again to be so scu

brief service, and then to start fair in their gleaning. The bell did still ring, but there were no prayers. The vicar had never come back, and it was reported that he had been sent to the plantations in America. There was no

rably fine. If it were wet, the little stream used to flood the lower valley so that it was not possible to get across. Stead

usha got hold of the knife, cut her hand, and rolled it up in her Sunday frock, and Steadfast, thinking he had got a small bit of rag, tied it up in Patience's round cap, but that he did not know till afterwards, only that baby had got out again, and after some search was found asleep cuddled up clo

taken her to rest at the friends with whom they spent the

they used to be before the fighting began-and the parso

re making everyone draw nearer together, and look

season, but it was almost worse, for it was very wet. The little brook swelled, turned muddy yellow, and came rushing and tumbling along,

st. "You see this house has been here fr

ly," said Patience, "I wish we w

he cleared a path to a freshly discovered cave a little lower down the stream

so frightened that she actually took the children up there, and set Rus

, Patience's rushes did not give light enough to see to do anything by them even when they did not get blown out, and when the sun had set there was nothing for it, but as soon as the few cattle had been foddered in their shed and cave, to draw the mat and sheepskins that made a curtain by way of door, fasten it down with a stone, share with dog and cat the supper of broth, or milk, or porridge which Patience had cooked, and then lie down on the beds of dried leaves stuffed into sacking, drawing over them the blankets and cloaks that ha

ey did stick holly in every chink where it would go, but there were n

ot even Smith Blane went with him, deeming the weather too bad

at all. It was easy to tell who was for the King and who for the Parliament, for there were bushes of holly, mistletoe, and ivy, at all the Royalist doors

r, beneath which could be seen curls of jet-black hair, walked at the head of a party of gentlemen. Everyone in the crowd uncovered and there was a vehement outcry of "God save the King! God save the Prince of Wales

to men, and how all ought to do all in their power to bring those blessed gifts back again. A good many people dropped off during the sermon, and more after it, but Steadfast remained. He had never bee

ing and kneeling so long after his walk, that he was glad to lean against t

round velvet skull-cap a kind old face looked

hristmas meal, my g

thank your reverence," replied Ste

y with something more," sai

er, "What is your name, my child? I kno

on, and I am from Elmwood, but we have no prayers

be in London once more, which Heaven grant. And, meantime, Sir George Elmwood being patron, none

going up the steps to the great hall of the Deanery, Steadfast saw long tables spread with snowy napkins, trenchers laid all round, and benches on which a numerous throng were seating themselves, mostly old people and little children, looking very poor and ragged. Steadfast held himself to b

e. The choirmen and boys, indeed all the Cathedral clergy who were unmarried, were dining there too, but the Dean and his wife waited on the table where the poorest were. Horns of ale were served to everyone, and the

nking of someone at home, and when he answered, she kindly undertook to lend him a basket, for which he might c

had left, and the Dean at the head of the table gave out the health of his most sacred Majesty King Charles, might God bless him, and confound all his enemies! The Prince bared his b

tly matter, but that the good Dean would have it so in order th