It was now perhaps the old mother and young wife of a prisoner,
holding up between them the son and husband, and guiding his tottering
steps, that set the people crying and groaning. Now it was perhaps a
couple of sturdy sons, unused tears running down their tanned cheeks,
as they brought forth a white-haired father, blinking with bleared
eyes at the forgotten sun, and gazing with dazed terror at the crowd
of excited people. Now it was Perez Hamlin, leading out Reuben,
holding him up with his arm, and crying like a baby in spite of all
that he could do. Nor need he have been ashamed, for there were few
men who were not in like plight. Then came Abner, and Abe Konkapot,
stepping carefully, as they carried in their arms George Fennell,
Prudence walking by his side, and holding fast his hand.
Nor must I forget to speak of Mrs. Poor. The big, raw-boned woman's
hard-favored countenance was lit up with motherly solicitude, as she
lifted, rather than assisted, Zadkiel, down the steps of the tavern.
"Wy don' ye take him up in yer arms?" remarked Obadiah Weeks,
facetiously, but it was truly more touching than amusing, to see the
protecting tenderness of the woman, for the puny little fellow whom an
odd freak of Providence had given her for a husband, instead of a son.
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