As soon as Hetty had collected a
sufficient number of the dried leaves to protect her person from
the damps of the ground, she kneeled beside the humble pile, clasped
her raised hands in an attitude of deep devotion, and in a soft,
low, but audible voice repeated the Lord's Prayer. This was followed
by those simple and devout verses, so familiar to children, in
which she recommended her soul to God, should it be called away to
another state of existence, ere the return of morning. This duty
done, she lay down and disposed herself to sleep. The attire of
the girl, though suited to the season, was sufficiently warm for
all ordinary purposes, but the forest is ever cool, and the nights
of that elevated region of country, have always a freshness about
them, that renders clothing more necessary than is commonly the
case in the summers of a low latitude. This had been foreseen by
Hetty, who had brought with her a coarse heavy mantle, which, when
laid over her body, answered all the useful purposes of a blanket
Thus protected, she dropped asleep in a few minutes, as tranquilly
as if watched over by the guardian care of that mother, who had so
recently been taken from her forever, affording in this particular
a most striking contrast between her own humble couch, and the
sleepless pillow of her sister.
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