Page:Tragical history of Crazy Jane, and young Henry.pdf/20

 taking with her a little basket of provision, which her tender mother always prepared ready to put into her hands; or poor Jane would have thought not of food, till assailed by the calls of hunger. When evening arrived, and above an hour was spent in momentary expectation of her return, the family became greatly alarmed; and Lubin and his mother went forth to seek her. They were not many paces from the house when they perceived a group of villagers approaching towards them, bearing a corpse. Alas! 'twas Jane. They had found her as they were passing through the grove on their return from their work, laying on the turf inanimateShe was cold; and life had left her fair form for ever. Her right hand reclined on her breast; and in her left was clasped a locket, which contained a fragment of Henry's hair, which he had given her on the day of Rosetta's nuptials. That day she had decked her head with willow only, and had omitted the straw and flowers. What a sight for a parent! Margaretta felt it in its full force, and fainted by the side of her departed daughter. It was some minutes ere they could recover her from her swoon; and Lubin, with difficulty, led her back to the house, while the villagers continued to bear their hapless burthen after the afflicted parent. The grief of the Arnold family could only be equalled by the aged Percival. He had wrote several times to India but received no answer, either from Henry or his relation. The sorrows of Jane greatly