THE KING AND THE BONDMEN.

 aloft in wild excitement; many of the women wept
 from the surprise of the sudden joy, and tears were
 seen dropping from the eyes of some of the bearded
 weather-beaten peasants who looked too rugged and
 toilworn for any such display of feeling. Again and
 again was the hearty cry repeated, Long live the
 Lord de Hedingham, and the Lady Edith !" So great
 is the power of kindness to touch the heart and win
 the affections 1
 As Hubert walked home, he held his head erect;
 his eye had never been so bright nor his step so firm.
 The desire of his heart was accomplished, and he was
 free. How sweet it seemed to breathe the breath of
 liberty I
 His family were by his side, their hearts too full for
 speech, and they walked for a time in silence. As
 they came in sight of their cottage, they saw a man
 barefooted, and dressed in a coarse grey gown, slowly
 advancing. He looks like one of the gospellers that
 the dusty-foot told us of," said Cicely.
 "He is a gospeller," remarked Ralph. Roger
 and I saw one as we journeyed home from London."
 The stranger accosted them and craved food and
shelter till the next day, for he had walked far and
was foot-sore. Hubert gave him a hearty welcome,
and they all entered the cottage. After rest and re-
freshment, the wanderer told that he went about from
place to place, teaching the poor something that was
good for them to know; and taking a short thick
book in parchment cover from the pocket of his gown,
he read aloud to the listeners who sat in eager atten-
tion, catching every word that fell from the speaker's
mouth. It was such as they had never heard before.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the king-
dom of heaven--Blessed are they that mourn, for they