journey assembled there, he knocked and was admitted. There was no one in

the house but Lucy, and her mother; the latter had been deprived of the use

of her limbs by an attack of rheumatism, and so, one by one, all the

remaining inhabitants of the country set forward, leaving them alone. Lucy

intreated the man to stay with her; in a week or two her mother would be

better, and they would then set out; but they must perish, if they were

left thus helpless and forlorn. The man said, that his wife and children

were already among the emigrants, and it was therefore, according to his

notion, impossible for him to remain. Lucy, as a last resource, gave him a

letter for Idris, to be delivered to her wherever he should meet us. This

commission at least he fulfilled, and Idris received with emotion the

following letter:--

HONOURED LADY,

"I am sure that you will remember and pity me, and I dare hope that you

will assist me; what other hope have I? Pardon my manner of writing, I am

so bewildered. A month ago my dear mother was deprived of the use of her

limbs. She is already better, and in another month would I am sure be able

to travel, in the way you were so kind as to say you would arrange for us.

But now everybody is gone--everybody--as they went away, each said,

that perhaps my mother would be better, before we were quite deserted. But

three days ago I went to Samuel Woods, who, on account of his new-born

child, remained to the last; and there being a large family of them, I

thought I could persuade them to wait a little longer for us; but I found

the house deserted. I have not seen a soul since, till this good man came.

461

The Last Man