Leila at Home: a continuation of Leila in EnglandTytler, Ann Fraser
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Leila at Home: a continuation of Leila in England
Tytler, Ann Fraser
Christian life -- Juvenile fiction; Country life -- Juvenile fiction; Cousins -- Juvenile fiction
But the farmer was gone. He returned again in a few minutes with the
brandy and a thick blanket. With Charles’s assistance he poured a little
brandy and water down Peggy’s throat, and wrapped her in the warm
blanket. “These poor thin rags,” he said, “are not for such cold as
this, the poor creature is half frozen; but she is coming about again,
her lips are not just so white; she will do yet; and, by good luck, I
see one of my carts coming from the field; we shall have her into it and
home in a jiffy. Hollo, there! Joe, my man, here’s a bye-job for you.”
Peggy was lifted into the cart, Selina and Leila also getting in and
supporting her in their arms. It was in vain Charles insisted on taking
this office on himself, they would not hear of it; it seemed as if it
were quite necessary for them to hold Peggy fast, as well as see her, to
convince them that the scene before them was not a joyful dream. But
Dash also appeared resolved to make one of the party in the cart--he
leaped in, stretched himself on Peggy’s feet, and to move him was
impossible.
“Let him lie there, he will do much good,” the farmer said; “he is a
wise animal, and I am thinking it is to his good offices that there is
the breath of life in this poor creature. Where is she bound for, young
ladies?”
“To Woodlands,” Leila answered.
The cart proceeded, followed by the others; when they arrived at the
lodge, Bill’s astonishment was great, and his joy also, when he heard
the wonderful news, for he had taken the greatest interest in Leila’s
distress; he called instantly to Susan to accompany them, and taking the
key, which was still in his charge, they took their way to Peggy’s
cottage, Charles having been sent on to the house to request the
attendance of Nurse. “Her papa,” Leila said, “had gone to London with
her Aunt Stanley; but Nurse, she was sure, would be of great use, and
might bring with her whatever she thought necessary for Peggy,” who
still remained in a state of stupor.
The fire was kindled, and Peggy laid upon her bed when Nurse arrived,
who, after giving her a small portion of nourishment, stood by the
bed-side holding her hand and gazing anxiously upon her.
“How wonderful are the ways of Providence,” she said. “To think of Peggy
being restored to us again, she that we mourned as sleeping under the
salt wave!”
Peggy opened her eyes. “And wherefore did ye pit me there?” she said,
with a faint smile. “Na, na, it was nae just sae bad as that, though
it’s been out o’ perils by sea and perils by land that the Lord has
delivered me, praise be to His holy name; but, oh! it’s a deliverance
past my weak comprehension, I canna make it out; but it’s all His
blessed work, and it’s a reality--it’s no’ a dream.”
“No, Peggy, it’s not a dream,” Matilda said, eagerly. “See, we are all
around you, and now Cousin Leila will be happy again, and merry as she
was before.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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