Sephora had nothing with her, but she thought some of the cordials she had at home might bring relief to him; or if not to him, to his distressed family, who had nothing to offer that could comfort them even with the hope of doing him good. She hesitated for a moment about leaving her mother, but one of the girls promised to stay with her, and help her to cut the osiers while she went for the medicine. The house was more than a mile off; but Sephora was always active, and her feet never moved with greater swiftness than when on some errand of mercy. She was soon there, and ran immediately into her mother's room, where she kept her store of simples; but here she was so surprised, that she almost forgot what it was that she came for; for on opening the door, the first thing she saw was a tall black looking man, standing in the middle of the room. His dress was of a different kind from any she had ever seen before, and his physiognomy was to the full as singular as his garb: dark, overarching eye brows; a long bushy beard, and a coun VOL. I. H tenance that expressed all the cunning and malignant passions. A being altogether so singular and wild in his appearance and demeanour, would have startled her in any situation, much more in this. He, on his part, seemed in almost equal confusion at seeing her; though he could not be aware of the terror his presence had inspired, for her face was quite concealed by her wimple. He told her he was a traveller, who had called to see her father and mother, whom he had formerly known, and finding no one in the first room he went into, he had walked into the others to see if any one was at home. Sephora told him where he might find her mother if he would return with her: this he declined doing, and also to tell his name, saying, he should most likely call again on his return from the journey he was at present going on. They went out of the cottage together, but took different roads; the traveller struck into the wood, and Sephora went along the banks of the river. She hastened on to make up for the time she had lost in talking to the stranger, who at least more than divided her thoughts with the poor dying old man. She was soon out of sight of the cottage, but when she had gone some distance where a bend in the Kishon gave another view of it, she turned her head, scarcely knowing what she looked round for, when she thought she saw part of the stranger's black mantle just floating into the cottage again. She did not like the appearance of this mysterious being, and felt rather uncomfortable at the idea of his going to their cottage again, when he must know that no one was at home in it. However, she pursued her way with her bottle of medicine till she reached the turf cabin, when she had the satisfaction to see it revive the poor old man, and raise the drooping spirits of a weeping family. He was soon so much recovered as to be able to sit up in his bed and talk to her. He asked who she was; and when he heard it was the daughter of Patrobus who had succoured him, it seemed like another cordial to his heart. He said he had known him well, that he had served under him at the siege of Jerusalem, at which was gone; and every feature was strongly marked with the deep ridge and furrow of age; yet there was something in his appearance that excited admiration rather than disgust. The top of his head was bald; but his hoary hairs, (that crown of glory if found in the way of righteousness,) hung in waving ringlets round his face, and shaded his pallid countenance. On one side stood his daughter holding an infant in one arm, while with the other hand she strove to adjust his pillow, so that his weary head might find rest on it. His son sat below her on the corner of the bed, with his face bowed down, vainly striving to conceal his tears, for his sobs were audible. Two boys and three girls of different ages, stood mournfully round their beloved grandfather, looking with anguish on his dying form. Sephora, whose sympathy was always ready for the unfortunate, was much affected at this scene. The poor old man could scarcely speak, and seemed ready to faint; he had not eaten for several days, and nature was nearly exhausted. Sephora had nothing with her, but she thought some of the cordials she had at home might bring relief to him; or if not to him, to his distressed family, who had nothing to offer that could comfort them even with the hope of doing him good. She hesitated for a moment about leaving her mother, but one of the girls promised to stay with her, and help her to cut the osiers while she went for the medicine. The house was more than a mile off; but Sephora was always active, and her feet never moved with greater swiftness than when on some errand of mercy. She was soon there, and ran immediately into her mother's room, where she kept her store of simples; but here she was so surprised, that she almost forgot what it was that she came for; for on opening the door, the first thing she saw was a tall black looking man, standing in the middle of the room. His dress was of a different kind from any she had ever seen before, and his physiognomy was to the full as singular as his garb: dark, overarching eye brows; a long bushy beard, and a coun VOL. I. H |