my bosom to--to--I dare not think what!--I tried, I laboured to give
my offspring honest bread. I neither asked nor received charity; with
my hands I laboured, and blessed the Power that enabled me to do so.
If we are poor, we will be honest, was my maxim, and my boast. But
he--my husband--returned; he taught my boy to lie--to steal! and
when I remonstrated--when I prayed, with many tears, that he would
cease to train our--ay, _our_ child for destruction, he
mocked--scorned--told me, that, one by one, I should be bereaved of my
children if I thwarted his purposes; and that I might seek in vain for
them through the world, until I saw their names recorded in the book of
shame!--Gentlemen, this was no idle threat. Last night, Abel was taken
from me--"

"I knew there must have been a fourth," interrupted Sir Thomas, coldly;
"we must have the boy also secured."

The wretched mother, who had not imagined that any harm could result
to her son, stood as if a thunderbolt had transfixed her; her hands
clenched and extended--her features rigid and blanched--her frame
perfectly erect, and motionless as a statue. The schoolmaster, during
the whole of this scene, had been completely bewildered, until the idea
of his grandchild's danger or disappearance, he knew not which, took
possession of his mind; and, filled with the single thought his
faculties had the power of grasping at a time, he came forward to the
table at which Mr. Glasscott was seated, and respectfully uncovering his
grey hairs, his simple countenance presenting a strong contrast to the
agonized iron-bound features of his daughter, he addressed himself to
the worthy magistrate: "I trust you will cause instant search to be made
for the child Abel, whom your reverence used kindly to regard with
especial favour."