Abel Drakes Wife

d worn or played with. She dared not leave a single garment or toy to meet her gaze hereafter; but felt it as necessary to bury them as the poor little senseless, empty body itself. The stained red shoe, the sleeve bent to the shape, seemed even fuller of life just now than the foot or arm had ever been which the sexton had lowered into the dark earth. She worked on in the morning twilight, with hurried, trembling fingers, seldom daring to pause over any one of the things she touched. O, the luxury to have given way to the hot tears that pressed so at her aching eyes! O that she might but sit there and cry over these things all the day long, as other mothers might?mothers who had no occasion to rouse themselves from their grief till they wearied of it, in nature's own time and way. But Barbara knew well there were no such griefluxuries for her. She must break down every impulse of sorrow that had the least savour of indulgence in it. Monday morning must find her ready to go on as of old, taking her usual place and struggles in the ceaseless battle of life. When she had collected the things together in a handkerchief, she tied the whole, knot upon knot, and then dropped the sacred little bundle into the seat of the old settle, and shut it up, to come no more into the light for many a year. Poor Barbara ! This was like a second burial to her ; and as she sat down, when all was over, she felt once more as though there could be nothing remaining to live for, or ...