*'0  Mother  Earth,"  cried  he,  *'who  art  no  more  my
Mother,  and  into  whose  bosom  this  frame  shall  never  be
resolved!    O  mankind,  whose  brotherhood  I  have  cast  off,


Ethan  Brand  125

and  trampled  thy  great  heart  beneath  my  feet!  O  stars  of
heaven,  that  shone  on  me  of  old,  as  if  to  light  me  onward
and  upward! — farewell  all,  and  forever.  Come,  deadly
element  of  Fire, — henceforth  my  familiar  frame !  Embrace
me,  as  I  do  thee!"  5

That  night  the  sound  of  a  fearful  peal  of  laughter  rolled
heavily  through  the  sleep  of  the  lime-burner  and  his  little
son;  dim  shapes  of  horror  and  anguish  haunted  their
dreams,  and  seemed  still  present  in  the  rude  hovel,  when
they  opened  their  eyes  to  the  daylight.  10

''Up,  boy,  up!"  cried  the  lime-burner,  staring  about
him.  "Thank  Heaven,  the  night  is  gone,  at  last;  and
rather  than  pass  such  another,  I  would  watch  my  lime-
kiln, wide  awake,  for  a  twelvemonth.  This  Ethan  Brand,
with  his  humbug  of  an  Unpardonable  Sin,  has  done  me  no  15
such  mighty  favor,  in  taking  my  place!"

He  issued  from  the  hut,  followed  by  little  Joe,  who  kept
fast  hold  of  his  father's  hand.  The  early  sunshine  was  al-
ready pouring  its  gold  upon  the  moun tain- tops ;  and  though
the  valleys  were  still  in  shadow,  they  smiled  cheerfully  in  20
the  promise  of  the  bright  day  that  was  hastening  onward.
