pressed upon him. He took up a pail of Mrs. Blane's which he thought
he might borrow and went off in search of the cows. So, murmuring
the Lord's Prayer as he walked, and making the resolution not to be
dragged away from his trust in the cavern, nor to forsake his little
sister--he heard the lowing of the cows as he went over the hill, and
found them standing at the gate of the fold yard, waiting to be eased
of their milk. Poor creatures, they seemed so glad to welcome him
that it was the first thing that brought tears to his eyes, and they
came with such a rush that he had much ado to keep them from dropping
into the pail as he leant his head against Croppie's ruddy side.

There was a little smouldering smoke; but the rain had checked the
fire, and though the roof of the house was gone and it looked
frightfully dreary and wretched, the walls were still standing and
the pigs were grunting about the place. However, Steadfast did not
stop to see what was left within, as he knew Ben would be crying for
food, but he carried his foaming pail back to Goody Grace's as fast
as he could, after turning out the cows on the common, not even
stopping to count the sheep that were straggling about.

His sisters were watching anxiously from the door of Goody Grace's
hovel, and eagerly cried out "Where's Jeph?"

Then he had to tell them that Jeph was gone for a soldier, to have
his revenge for his father's death.

"Jeph gone too!" said poor Patience, looking pale. "Oh, what shall
we ever do?"

"He did not think of that, I'll warrant, the selfish fellow," said