Part 56 (2/2)
”Yes, I do! I believe she does live and watch over you, my boy.”
Meanwhile Mrs. Middleton, who had been engaged in receiving and rejoicing over the two rescued youths, and soothing and composing their agitated spirits, now came forward to speak to Ishmael.
”My boy,” she said, in a voice shaking with emotion, ”my brave, good boy! I cannot thank you in set words; they would be too poor and weak to tell you what I feel, what we must all ever feel towards you, for what you have done to-night. But we will find some better means to prove how much we thank, how highly we esteem you.”
Ishmael held down his head, and blushed as deeply as if he had been detected in some mean act and reproached for it.
”You should look up and reply to the madam!” whispered the professor.
Ishmael raised his head and answered:
”My lady, I'm glad the young gentlemen are saved and you are pleased.
But I do not wish to have more credit than I have a right to; for I feel very sure George Was.h.i.+ngton wouldn't.”
”What do you say, Ishmael? I do not quite understand you,” said the lady.
”I mean, ma'am, as it wasn't altogether myself as the credit is due to.”
”To whom else, then, I should like to know?” inquired the lady in perplexity.
”Why, ma'am, it was all along of Israel Putnam. I knew he would have done it, and so I felt as if I was obliged to!”
”What a very strange lad! I really do not quite know what to make of him!” exclaimed the lady, appealing to the professor for want of a better oracle.
”Why, you see, ma'am, Ishmael is a n.o.ble boy and a real hero; but he is a bit of a heathen for all that, with a lot of false G.o.ds, as he is everlasting a-falling down and a-wors.h.i.+ping of! And the names of his G.o.ds are Was.h.i.+ngton, Jefferson, Putnam, Marion, Hanc.o.c.k, Henry, and the lot! The History of the United States is his Bible, ma'am, and its warriors and statesmen are his saints and prophets. But by-and-by, when Ishmael grows older, ma'am, he will learn, when he does any great or good action, to give the glory to G.o.d, and not to those dead and gone old heroes who were only flesh and blood like himself,” said the professor.
Mrs. Middleton looked perplexed, as if the professor's explanation itself required to be explained. And Ishmael, who seemed to think that a confession of faith was imperatively demanded of him, looked anxious--as if eager, yet ashamed, to speak. Presently he conquered his shyness, and said:
”But you are mistaken, professor. I am not a heathen. I wish to be a Christian. And I do give the glory of all that is good and great to the Lord, first of all. I do honor the good and great men; but I do glorify and wors.h.i.+p the Lord who made them.” And having said this, Ishmael collapsed, hung his head, and blushed.
”And I know he is not a heathen, you horrid old humbug of a professor!
He is a brave, good boy, and I love him!” said Miss Claudia, joining the circle and caressing Ishmael.
But, ah! again it was as if she had caressed Fido, and said that he was a brave, good dog, and she loved him.
”It was glorious in you to risk your life to save those good-for-nothing boys, who were your enemies besides! It was so! And it makes my heart burn to think of it! Stoop down and kiss me, Ishmael!”
Our little hero had the instincts of a gallant little gentleman. And this challenge was to be in no wise rejected. And though he blushed until his very ears seemed like two little flames, he stooped and touched with his lips the beautiful white forehead that gleamed like marble beneath its curls of jet. The storm, which had abated for a time, now arose with redoubled violence. The party of women and children, though gathered under a group of cedars, were still somewhat exposed to its fury.
Grainger, the overseer, who with his men had been unremitting in his endeavors to arrest the progress of the flames, now came up, and taking off his hat to Mrs. Middleton, said:
”Madam, I think, please the Lord, we shall bring the fire under presently and save all of the building except that wing, which must go.
But, if you please, ma'am, I don't see as you can do any good standing here looking on. So, now that the young gentlemen are safe, hadn't you all better take shelter in my house? It is poor and plain; but it is roomy and weather-tight, and altogether you and the young gentlemen and ladies would be better off there than here.”
”I thank you, Grainger. I thank you for your offer as well as for your efforts here to-night, and I will gladly accept the shelter of your roof for myself and young friends. Show us the way. Come, my children. Come, you also, Ishmael.”
”Thank you very much, ma'am; but, if I can't be of any more use here, I must go home. Aunt Hannah will be looking for me.” And with a low bow the boy left the scene.
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