A knock came upon it, which almost caused her to shriek aloud. Yet it
was a quiet rap, and a neighbor's voice answered as she asked
tremulously who was there. She hastened to open the door, so welcome was
the sound of the well-known voice; but there, opposite to her, in the
driving rain, rested the hurdle, with the confused mass lying huddled
together upon it. The men who bore it were silent, standing with their
faces turned toward her; all of them strangers, except the one neighbor,
who was on her threshold.
"They found him lying out in the fields near the Woodhouse farm," said
her neighbor, in a loud whisper; "he'd strayed there, we reckon."
"Is he dead?" she asked, mechanically.
"Not dead, bless your heart! no!" was the answer; "we'll carry him in.
There now! Don't take on. There's a special providence over folks like
him; they never come to much harm, you know. Show us where to lay him."
Ann Holland made way for the men to pass her, as they carried their
burden into the quiet, pleasant kitchen. She followed with the light,
and looked down upon him; her brother, who had played with her, and
learned the same lessons, when they were innocent little children
together.
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