Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/214

 of cleanliness and comfort: it was built of wood; but the materials had undergone the plane, as well as the axe and the saw. It was painted white; and the windows not only had sashes, but these sashes were supplied, contrary to custom, with glass: in most cases, the aperture where glass should be is stuffed with an old hat or petticoat. The door had not only all its parts entire, but was embellished with mouldings and a pediment. I gathered from these tokens that this was the abode, not only of rural competence and innocence, but of some beings, raised by education and fortune above the intellectual mediocrity of clowns.

Methought I could claim consanguinity with such beings; not to share their charity and kindness would be inflicting as well as receiving injury; the trouble of affording shelter and warmth and wholesome diet to a wretch destitute as I was, would be eagerly sought by them.

Still I was unwilling to disturb them. I bethought myself that their kitchen might be entered, and all that my necessities required be obtained, without interrupting their slumber. I needed nothing but the warmth which their kitchen hearth would afford; stretched upon the bricks I might dry my clothes, and perhaps enjoy some unmolested sleep: in spite of presages of ill, and the horrid remembrances of what I had performed and endured, I believed that nature would afford a short respite to my cares.

I went to the door of what appeared to be a kitchen; the door was wide open. This circumstance portended evil; though it be not customary to lock or to bolt, it is still less usual to have entrances unclosed. I entered with suspicious steps, and saw enough to confirm my apprehensions. Several pieces of wood half—burned, lay in the midst of the floor: they appeared to have been removed hither from the chimney, doubtless with a view to set fire to the whole building.

The fire had made some progress on the floor, but had been seasonably extinguished by pails full of water thrown upon it; the floor was still deluged with wet; the pail, not emptied of all its contents, stood upon the hearth. The earthen vessels and plates, whose proper place was the dresser, were scattered in fragments in all parts of the room