Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/224

 which shook as in an ague fit, added to the usual difficulties of the task.

A dozen times she struck the implements together nervously before she could obtain a spark, and even when she did obtain it, owing to her trepidation, the tiny messenger of hope fell outside of the prepared tinder in the box, and was lost; another—and another—and they do not light; again it lights, but her own eager, gasping breath has extinguished it. At length, after repeated disappointments, the tinder is ignited, and she hastily lighted the rushlight at the momentary blaze. Oh! thank heaven for the protection, the sense of security that there is in light.

She breathed more freely, as looking round the room she saw no traces of disorder or disturbance: every thing was in its place, every thing was unaltered, and this familiar home look did much to compose and reassure her. Finding that the open window had cleared the room of much of its oppressive odor, Mrs. Browne hastened to close and fasten it; and then, as by a natural connection of ideas, she stepped to the other win