“Safford! Safford! Who called me Safford?” said the old man, suddenly looking round in a terrified manner. “I—I’ve been a dreamin’,” uttering a weak laugh. “It’s not my—I mean nobody said it. I never heerd that name before. It’s darned funny, ain’t it? but I never even heerd that name before in my life! You know I didn’t”—growing wild and excited again—“you know it’s a lie! I ain’t got no relatives, nor nobody to look after.” The gentlemen, without speaking, stooped to raise him; but he struggled violently, and, keeping his eyes still fixed on the younger one, he cried, with such an extreme distress upon his face, that they involuntarily drew back,— “No, no! I’m not fit to be near you. Stand off! You’re a fine gentleman; it’s not for the likes of you to touch me!” Then turning toward the colonel, he muttered some inarticulate apology, and actually staggered, unaided, to his feet,— “I’m ’bliged to ye all,” he said, nodding his head up and down, and backing, with uncertain steps, toward the foundry, as if afraid to take his eyes from the party as long as he was within their sight. “Thar ain’t nothin’ the matter with me! I jest felt faint a spell from the heat—the heat. It ain’t nothin’, an’ it’s gone now! I’ll go back to my work agin—I’m all right—I’m ’bliged to ye! It was jest the heat as overcum me—jest the heat—” and, with a painful smile upon his thin lips, still muttering unintelligible excuses, he tottered into the building. For a moment, taken by surprise, the group remained motionless. Then Helen said; “Poor old man! I declare, it almost made me cry only to look at him!—Father, you will have him cared for; you will not allow him to work any more?” “No. He is dreadfully broken down, and I have heard the hands say that, latterly, he was breaking in his mind, too; but I did not know it was so bad. I will see that he does as little as possible; but he will never quit until he gives out utterly, and he can not hold on long in this condition. Strange, Safford, how the sight of you seemed to excite him! Did you notice with what a wild, terrified gaze he stared at you, as if he had been hunted down? and, when you stooped to raise him up, he almost drew himself into a knot. I did not suppose, when I saw him on the ground, that he had strength enough left to stand on his feet without help; and it seemed as if it was this fear of you that inspired him with the power.” The younger man stood leaning against the tree from which he had not moved. “Yes,” he replied, “it was strange; I noticed it. How long have you had him in your employ?” “More than ten years, and he has been about the most valuable hand in the foundry.” “Then I’m sure, father, you will take care of him, and not let him work any more?” said Helen, again.