When all was ready, she got in, and the
man handed her the sleeping child, and then took his place beside
her.
"To Boston, remember, Jacob; and make the time as short as
possible."
No other words were spoken. Jacob led his horses down the
carriage-way to the gate, which he closed carefully after passing
through; and then mounting to his seat, drove off rapidly.
But little conversation took place between Mrs. Allen and her
traveling companion; and that was in so low a tone of voice, that
Jacob Perkins failed to catch a single word, though he bent his ear
and listened with the closest attention whenever he heard a murmur
of voices.
It was after daylight when they arrived in Boston, where Jacob
Perkins left them, and returned home with all speed, to wake up the
town of S----with a report of his strange adventure. Before parting
with Mrs. Allen, she gave him a purse, which, on examination, was
found to contain a hundred dollars in gold. She also placed in his
hand a small gold locket, and said, impressively, while her almost
colorless lips quivered, and her bosom struggled with its pent up
feelings--
"Jacob, when my son--he is now absent with his father--reaches his
tenth year, give him this, and say that it is a gift from his
mother, and contains a lock of her hair.
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