The evening had closed in so intensely cold that although we
were only two miles from C - -, Addie was so much affected by it that
the child lay sick and pale in my arms, and, when spoken to, seemed
scarcely conscious of our presence.
My brother jumped from the front seat, and came round to look at
her. "That child is ill with the cold; we must stop somewhere to
warm her, or she will hardly hold out till we get to the inn at
C - -."
We were just entering the little village of A - -, in the vicinity of
the court-house, and we stopped at a pretty green cottage, and asked
permission to warm the children. A stout, middle-aged woman came to
the sleigh, and in the kindest manner requested us to alight.
"I think I know that voice," I said. "Surely it cannot be Mrs. S - -,
who once kept the - - hotel at C - -?"
"Mrs. Moodie, you are welcome," said the excellent woman, bestowing
upon me a most friendly embrace; "you and your children. I am
heartily glad to see you again after so many years. God bless you
all!"
Nothing could exceed the kindness and hospitality of this generous
woman; she would not hear of our leaving her that night, and,
directing my brother to put up his horses in her stable, she made
up an excellent fire in a large bedroom, and helped me to undress
the little ones who were already asleep, and to warm and feed the
rest before we put them to bed.
