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 place of safety.’ This heart-consoling promise inspired him with confidence, and he continued for a time to make, with renewed vigour his way across the moor. At length, however, wearied and faint through fatigue, he was compelled to cast his pack on the ground, and in the midst of the pitiless storm rested himself thereon. Thus situated, he frequently, and with much anxiety looked, to see, that if perchance, some place of shelter might lie near, but nothing met his eye but darkness, and that occasionally made more visible and fearful by the lightning, which ever anon struck through the gloom.

Resigning himself to his unhappy fate, the poor benighted pedlar boy, anticipated nothing but perishing ere the cheering light of day should again lighten the earth.

Despair had a second time nearly taken possession of his soul, when he suddenly started to his feet, and turning round, to his great astonishment and joy, the light of a taper appeared to come from a pot not far distant: a few minutes’ walk brought him to he window whence the light issued, he looked in and saw several individuals busily engaged drinking round a cheerful fire. He now made for the door, which when he came at was firmly