You can read, Eester; which is a privilege I never did enjoy."
"Yes, yes," muttered the woman, yielding to his strength, and
suffering herself to be led, though with strong reluctance from the
spot. "I can read; and how have I used the knowledge! But he, Ishmael,
he has not the sin of wasted l'arning to answer for. We have spared
him that, at least! whether it be in mercy, or in cruelty, I know
not."
Her husband made no reply, but continued steadily to lead her in the
direction of their temporary abode. When they reached the summit of
the swell of land, which they knew was the last spot from which the
situation of the grave of Asa could be seen, they all turned, as by
common concurrence, to take a farewell view of the place. The little
mound itself was not visible; but it was frightfully indicated by the
flock of screaming birds which hovered above. In the opposite
direction a low, blue hillock, in the skirts of the horizon, pointed
out the place where Esther had left the rest of her young, and served
as an attraction to draw her reluctant steps from the last abode of
her eldest born.
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