|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
 |
||||
|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
|
|
||||
|
“But he has sold you, my poor woman, there’s no doubt about it,” said a good- natured looking man, who had been examining the papers; “he has done it, and no mistake.” “Then it’s no account talking,” said the woman, suddenly growing quite calm; and, clasping her child tighter in her arms, she sat down on her box, turned her back round, and gazed listlessly into the river. “Going to take it easy, after all!” said the trader. “Gal’s got grit, I see.” The woman looked calm, as the boat went on; and a beautiful soft summer breeze passed like a compassionate spirit over her head,- the gentle breeze, that never inquires whether the brow is dusky or fair that it fans. And she saw sun- shine sparkling on the water, in golden ripples, and heard gay voices, full of ease and pleasure, talking around her everywhere; but her heart lay as if a great stone had fallen on it. Her baby raised himself up against her, and stroked her cheeks with his little hands; and, springing up and down, crowing and chatting, seemed determined to arouse her. She strained him suddenly and tightly in her arms, and slowly one tear after another fell on his wondering, unconscious face; and gradu- ally she seemed, and little by little, to grow calmer, and busied herself with tend- ing and nursing him. The child, a boy of ten months, was uncommonly large and strong of his age, and very vigorous in his limbs. Never, for a moment still, he kept his mother con- stantly busy in holding him, and guarding his springing activity. |
