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Show 202 U!·.'"CLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, Rachel came out into the kltchcn, where EJjza was sowing, and opening the door of a smaJI bed-room, said, gently, " Come in here with me, my daughter; I have news to tell thee.'' l'ho blood flushed in Eliza's palo face; she rose, trembling with ncnous anxiety, and looked towards her boy. "No, no," said little Ruth, darting up, and seizing her bands. '1 Never thee fear; it 's good news, Eliza.,-go in, go in!" And she gently pushed her to the door, which closed after Lor; and then, turning round, she caught little llarry in her arms, and began kissing him. "Thee 'II sec thy father, little one. Docs thee know it1 Thy f.:tthcr is coming," sbo sa.ld, over and over again, as the boy looked wonderingly at her. }.feanwhilc, within the door, another scene was going on. Rachel Halliday drew Eliza toward her, and said, " 'l'he Lord hath had mercy on thee, daughter; thy husband hath escaped from the house of bondage." The blood flushed to Eliza's check in a sudden glow, and went back to her heart with as sudden a rush. She sat down, pale and faint. "Il:1Vc courage, child," said Rachel, laying her hand on her hcaa. "He is among friends, who will bring him hero to-night.'' 11 To-night ! " Eliza repeated, "to-night ! " The words lost all meaning to hm· ; her head was dreamy and confused; all was mist for a moment. When she awoke, she found herself snugly tucked up on the bed, with a blanket 0\'Cr her, and little Ruth rubbing her hands with camphor. She opened her eyes in a state of J.IFE AMONG TilE LOWLY. 203 dreamy, delicious l:mguor, such as bnc has who has long been bca'ring a heavy load, and now feels it gone, and would rest. ~rho tension of tltc ncl'\'cs, which had never ceased a moment since the first hour of her flight, had given w::ty, and a strange 1Ccling of security ::mel rest came over her; and, as she Jay, with her largo, dark eyes open, she followed, as jn a. quiet dream, tho motions of those about her. She saw tho door open into the other room; saw the supper-table, with its snowy cloth; heard the dreamy murmur of the singing ten.-kettle; sn.w Ruth tripping backward and forwnrd, with plates of cake and &'l.ucors of preserves, and ever and anon stopping to put a. cake into Harry's htljld, or P.'t his head, or twine his long curls round her snowy fingers. She saw the ample, motherly form of Hnchcl, ns she ever and nnon came to the bcd·sidc, nnd smoothed and nrrangcd something nbout tho bed-clothes, and gave a tuck hero nnd there, by way of expressing her good-will; and was conscious of a. kind of sunshine beaming down upon her from her largo, clear, brown eyes. She saw Ruth's 1lllsbn.nd come in,-- sMv her fly up to him, and commence whispering very earnestly, ever and anon, with impressive gesture, pointing her little finger toward the room. She saw her, with tho baby in her nrms, sitting down to tea; she saw them all at table, aud little Harry in a high cha.ir, under the shadow of Rachel's ample wing; there were low murmurs of talk, gentle tinkling of tea-spoons, and music..'ll clatter of cups and saucers, and all mingled in n. delightful dream of rest; and Eliza slept, as she had not slept before, since the fearful midnight hour when she had taken her child and fled through the frosty stru·-Iight. She dreamed of a beautiful country,-a land, it seemed to her, of rest, -green shores, pleasant islands, and beautifully glittering water; aud there, in a houso which kind voices told |