It seemed a year instead of a few hours only since they had
left in the morning.
"It's been a good day's work, Cap'n Hamlin, the best I ever hed a hand
in," said Israel. "I callate it was the Lord's own work, ef we dew git
hanged for't."
As the procession passed Israel's house, he helped out his sad guests,
and sent on his cart with its other inmates. All the way back from
Barrington, the Stockbridge company had been meeting a string of men
and boys, in carts and afoot, who, having heard reports of what had
been done, were hastening to see for themselves. Many of these turned
back with the returning procession, others keeping on. This exodus of
the masculine element, begun in the morning, and continued all day,
had left in Stockbridge little save women and girls and small
children, always excepting, of course, the families of the wealthier
and governing classes, who had no part nor lot in the matter.
Accordingly, when the party reached the green, there was only an
assemblage of women and children to receive them. These crowded around
the carts containing the released prisoners, with exclamations of pity
and amazement, and as the vehicles took different directions at the
parting of the streets, each one was followed by a score or two, who
witnessed with tearful sympathy each reunion of husband and wife, of
brother and sister, of mother and son.
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