peared fixed and stationary, and traversing several marshes, up to my knees in the mire, I, at last, discovered a little hovel, in a thicket, from which the rays proceeded. I approached the entrance and gave a loud rap, when a soft voice called out from within: "Lay down the things, Maria, and open the door." The door was opened by a little girl; a woman turned her back to me, busied with stirring a coal-fire, and a little boy seeing me, hid his face in her bosom, crying: "Ah, mother! only look!"
"I'm glad thou'rt come Jago," said the woman without turning an eye from the fire, and the kettle that was put over it. "I wish you had brought father too, I have been obliged to burn all the fuel, waiting so long, but I warrant you, my dear, you'll relish the soup the better."
She now took the cover off the kettle, and looked into it with all the solicitude of a busy and pleased housewife,
"Dear woman," cried I at last, "that was a terrible storm—"
