er of the immediate neighbors were hastily collected,
and the ordinary rites of sepulture[74] were paid to the deceased.
Birch supported the grave and collected manner that was thought
becoming in a male mourner.

[Footnote 74: burial.]

The muscles of the peddler's face were seen to move, and as the first
clod of earth fell on the tenement of his father, sending up that
dull, hollow sound that speaks so eloquently the mortality of man, his
whole frame was for an instant convulsed. He bent his body down, as if
in pain, his fingers worked, while the hands hung lifeless by his
side, and there was an expression in his countenance that seemed to
announce a writhing of the soul; but it was not unresisted, and it
was transient. He stood erect, drew a long breath, and looked around
him with an elevated face, that seemed to smile with a consciousness
of having obtained the mastery. The grave was soon filled; a rough
stone, placed at either extremity, marked its position, and the turf,
whose faded vegetation was adapted to the fortunes of the deceased,
covered the little hillock with the last office of seemliness.
Uncovering his head, the peddler hesitated a moment to gather energy,
and spoke.

"My friends and neighbors," he said, "I thank you for assisting me to
bury my dead out of my sight."

A solemn pause succeeded the customary address, and the group
dispersed in silence. The peddler and Katy were followed into the
building by one man, however, who was well known to the surrounding
country by the significant term of "a speculator." Katy saw him enter,
with a heart that palpitated with dreadful forebodings; but Harvey
civilly handed him a chair, and evidently was prepared for the visit.

The peddler went to the door, and, taking a cautious glance about the
valley, quickly returned and commenced the following dialogue:

"The sun has just left the top of the eastern hill; my time presses
me; here is the deed for the house and lot; everything is done
according to law."

The other took the paper, and conned its contents with a deliberation
that proceeded partly from caution, and partly from the unlucky
circumstances of his education having been much neglected when a
youth. The time thus occupied in this tedious examination was employed
by Harvey in gathering together certain articles which he intended to
include in the stores that were to leave the habitation with himself.

"I'm rather timersome about this conveya