Finger Posts on the Way of Life | Page 5

and a night's lodging at the
first humble dwelling that presented itself.
Dusky twilight was giving place to deeper shadows, when I found
myself in the vicinity of a dwelling, from the small uncurtained
windows of which the light shone with a pleasant promise of good
cheer and comfort. The house stood within an enclosure, and a short
distance from the road along which I was moving with wearied feet.
Turning aside, and passing through an ill-hung gate, I approached the
dwelling. Slowly the gate swung on its wooden hinges, and the rattle of

its latch, in closing, did not disturb the air until I had nearly reached the
little porch in front of the house, in which a slender girl, who had
noticed my entrance, stood awaiting my arrival.
A deep, quick bark answered, almost like an echo, the sound of the
shutting gate, and, sudden as an apparition, the form of an immense
dog loomed in the doorway. I was now near enough to see the savage
aspect of the animal, and the gathering motion of his body, as he
prepared to bound forward upon me. His wolfish growl was really
fearful. At the instant when he was about to spring, a light hand was
laid upon his shaggy neck, and a low word spoken.
"Don't be afraid. He won't hurt you," said a voice, that to me sounded
very sweet and musical.
I now came forward, but in some doubt as to the young girl's power
over the beast, on whose rough neck her almost childish hand still lay.
The dog did not seem by any means reconciled to my approach, and
growled wickedly his dissatisfaction.
"Go in, Tiger," said the girl, not in a voice of authority yet in her gentle
tones was the consciousness that she would be obeyed; and, as she
spoke, she lightly bore upon the animal with her hand, and he turned
away, and disappeared within the dwelling.
"Who's that?" A rough voice asked the question; and now a
heavy-looking man took the dog's place in the door.
"Who are you? What's wanted?" There was something very harsh and
forbidding in the way the man spoke. The girl now laid her hand upon
his arm, and leaned, with a gentle pressure, against him.
"How far is it to G----?" I asked, not deeming it best to say, in the
beginning, that I sought a resting-place for the night.
"To G----!" growled the man, but not so harshly as at first. "It's good
six miles from here."

"A long distance; and I'm a stranger, and on foot," said I. "If you can
make room for me until morning, I will be very thankful."
I saw the girl's hand move quickly up his arm, until it rested on his
shoulder, and now she leaned to him still closer.
"Come in. We'll try what can be done for you."
There was a change in the man's voice that made me wonder.
I entered a large room, in which blazed a brisk fire. Before the fire sat
two stout lads, who turned upon me their heavy eyes, with no very
welcome greeting. A middle-aged woman was standing at a table, and
two children were amusing themselves with a kitten on the floor.
"A stranger, mother," said the man who had given me so rude a
greeting at the door; "and he wants us to let him stay all night."
The woman looked at me doubtingly for a few moments, and then
replied coldly--
"We don't keep a public-house."
"I'm aware of that, ma'am," said I; "but night has overtaken me, and it's
a long way yet to G----."
"Too far for a tired man to go on foot," said the master of the house,
kindly, "so it's no use talking about it, mother; we must give him a
bed."
So unobtrusively, that I scarcely noticed the movement, the girl had
drawn to the woman's side. What she said to her, I did not hear, for the
brief words were uttered in a low voice; but I noticed, as she spoke, one
small, fair hand rested on the woman's hand. Was there magic in that
gentle touch? The woman's repulsive aspect changed into one of kindly
welcome, and she said:
"Yes, it's a long way to G----. I guess we can find a place for him. Have
you had any supper?"

I answered in the negative.
The woman, without further remark, drew a pine table from the wall,
placed upon it some cold meat, fresh bread and butter, and a pitcher of
new milk. While these preparations were going on, I had more leisure
for minute observation. There was a singular contrast between the
young girl I have mentioned and the other inmates of the room; and yet,
I could