ARTHUR
84

I sensed that my story aroused her compassion, and I proceeded with a new spirit to portray the helplessness of this girl. The deaths of his father and sister left the farm's possessions for him. His gender and age disqualified him for being the overseer of the crop fields and threshing grounds; and there was no way left except to rent the land to others, and, and, taking his place in the family of a relative or friend, to live, as he probably did easily, out of rent. Meanwhile, his continuation in this house was equally useless and dangerous, and I insinuated my friend about the propriety of immediately moving him to his own house.

Some doubts and aversions arose in him, which I immediately regarded as an unreasonable fear of infection. I tried, by drawing out his reason and compassion, to conquer this fear. I pointed out the true cause of the death of the eldest daughter, and assured her that the youngest was ignorant of nothing but what arose from distress. I offered to save him from any danger that might accompany him approaching the house, by accompanying him himself here. All that was required of his safety was that his door should not be closed when he appeared before them.

Still he was fearful and reluctant; and, at length, mentioned that his uncle lived no more than sixteen miles further; that he was his natural protector, and, he dared to say, that, there would be no difficulty in receiving it into his house. For his part, there may be a reason in what I say, but he cannot think but there is still a danger of fever . It is right to help those who are in trouble, to be sure; but to risk his own life, he does not think to be his duty. She is not a family relative, and it is a relationship duty to help each other. His uncle was the right person to help him, and no doubt he would be as willing as he could be.

The signs of doubt and indecision that accompany these words prompt me to seek to conquer his doubts. His increasing aversion to my scheme was in line with my protests, and he eventually declared that he would, for no reason, approve of it.

Ellis was not at all hard-hearted. His determination does not prove the coldness of charity, but only the strength of his fear. He himself was more of an object of compassion than of anger; and he acted like a man whose fear of death drove him to push his friend off a board that saved him from drowning, but who was unable to sustain both. Finding him invincible for my pleas, I thought of the wisdom he suggested to seek his uncle's protection. It is true that the loss of a parent has made his uncle a protector of his law. His knowledge of the world; his home and property and his influence, perhaps, would suit him for this post in a higher degree than would suit me. Seeking a different asylum may indeed be unfair to both; and, after some reflection, I did not simply ignore the regret Ellis had given me, but even thanked him for the intelligence and advice he had given me. I took a break from him, and rushed back to Hadwin's house .

Eliza, according to Caleb's report, is still asleep. There was no urgent need to wake her up; but something had to be done immediately with regards to the unhappy girl who had died. The demands of the trial on us are clear. All that was left was to dig a grave, and store the remains with solemnity and decency as much as possible. There are two methods to do this. My

it may wait until the next day; until the coffin can be made and brought here; until the woman, whose job it is to make and wear the clothes given by custom to the dead, is, it can be searched and hired to attend; until relatives, friends, and neighbors can be called to the cemetery; until a train is provided to move the body to the burial site, which belongs to a meeting hall, and the distance is five miles; until those whose work is to dig the grave have prepared it, in the sacred cage, for its reception; or, neglecting this laborious, tedious, and expensive ceremony, which is, I might search Hadwin's grave, and lay his daughter by his parents' side.

Maybe I was strong in my preference of the last mode. The habit of burial may, in most cases, by itself be appropriate. If the habit does not make sense, it may be generally appropriate to adhere to it; but there must be cases where it is our duty to eliminate it. I imagine this case to be like that.

The season was bleak and bad. A lot of time, effort, and costs are needed to undergo traditional ceremonies. There is no one but myself to do this, and I have no suitable means. Eliza's woes will only be extended by following these forms, and her wealth will be reduced in vain by the costs to be incurred.

He betrayed some hesitation to obey, and seemed surprised to a certain degree, as if my goal was to persecute, rather than secure, the dead break. I dispel his doubts by explaining my intentions; but he was no less surprised, upon discovering the truth, than he was alarmed by his first suspicions. He stuttered objections to my scheme. There was only one way of burial, he thought, that was worthy and proper, and he could not be free to assist me in pursuing another way.

Perhaps Caleb's aversion to the scheme could be overcome easily; but I contemplated that thoughts like his were at once flexible and stubborn. He may succumb to arguments and supplications, and act with their immediate impulse; but the impulse passes in an instant, old beliefs and habits are continued, and his deviation from the ordinary course will only result in regret. His help, on this occasion, though useful, was not at all necessary. I was reluctant to ask for his approval, or even to dispel any doubts he gave towards directing me to Hadwin's tomb . It was a baseless superstition that made one place more suitable for this purpose than another. I wanted Caleb, in a gentle tone, to go back to the kitchen, and let me act the way I thought I deserved. I then went to the garden.

One corner of this field is somewhat above the level of the rest. The tallest tree of the group grew there, and there I had previously placed a bench, and made it my resting place at leisure. It had been recommended by its secluded situation, lush greenness, and deep tranquility. On one side was a potato field, on the other was a patch of melons; and in front of me, in a row, several hundred apple trees. Here I used to seek the benefits of contemplation and study the Lodi texts. Several months have passed since the last time I visited this place. What revolution has taken place since then, and how contrasting my current goals are with what has previously brought me here!

In this place I hurriedly decided to dig Susan's grave. The cemetery was dug. All I want is a cavity with enough dimensions to accept it. Since this was made, I returned home, raised the corpse in my hand, and carried it without delay to the place. Caleb, who was sitting in the kitchen, and Eliza, who was asleep in her room, were completely unaware of my movements . The grave was closed, spades were put back under the shed, and my seat by the fireplace was lit up again in a time that seemed too short for such a serious and important transaction.

I look back on this incident with emotions that are not easily explained. It seemed to me that I was acting with too much precipitation; it was as if insensitivity, and not reason, had led to the clarity of that conception, and provided the muscular firmness, which I then experienced. I do not tremble or waver in my purpose. I carried the creature that I knew and loved, through the whistling storm and the pitch-black darkness of the winter night; I piled the ground on its limbs, and covered it from human observation, he said, without fluctuations or vibrations, though not without a terrible and sublime feeling.

Perhaps part of my fortitude is due to my late experience, and some thoughts may be easier to get used to a dangerous emergency than others. If reason gains strength only with reduced sensitivity, perhaps it is simply because sensitivity is reduced.

Eliza's security is the object that now grabs my attention. Sleep, according to his example, was the most appropriate; but my uncertainty with respect to his fate, and my desire to take him to another house, kept my mind moving. I waited impatiently until he woke up and allowed me to consult him about future plans.