`` But dry your eyes and tell me where your mother dwells ; I promise you , if the journey be not too far , I will leave you in her arms tonight . '' The boy had hushed his wailing at once , and turned his face upward to the stranger . It was a pale , bright-eyed countenance , certainly not more than six years old , but sorrow , fear and want had destroyed much of its infantile expression . The Puritan , seeing the boy 's frightened gaze and feeling that he trembled under his hand , endeavored to reassure him : `` Nay , if I intended to do you harm , little lad , the readiest way were to leave you here . What ! you do not fear to sit beneath the gallows on a new-made grave , and yet you tremble at a friend 's touch ? Take heart , child , and tell me what is your name and where is your home . '' `` Friend , '' replied the little boy , in a sweet though faltering voice , `` they call me Ilbrahim , and my home is here . '' The pale , spiritual face , the eyes that seemed to mingle with the moonlight , the sweet , airy voice and the outlandish name almost made the Puritan believe that the boy was in truth a being which had sprung up out of the grave on which he sat ; but perceiving that the apparition stood the test of a short mental prayer , and remembering that the arm which he had touched was lifelike , he adopted a more rational supposition . `` The poor child is stricken in his intellect , '' thought he , `` but verily his words are fearful in a place like this . '' He then spoke soothingly , intending to humor the boy 's fantasy : `` Your home will scarce be comfortable , Ilbrahim , this cold autumn night , and I fear you are ill-provided with food . I am hastening to a warm supper and bed ; and if you will go with me , you shall share them . '' `` I thank thee , friend , but , though I be hungry and shivering with cold , thou wilt not give me food nor lodging , '' replied the boy , in the quiet tone which despair had taught him even so young . `` My father was of the people whom all men hate ; they have laid him under this heap of earth , and here is my home . '' The Puritan , who had laid hold of little Ilbrahim 's hand , relinquished it as if he were touching a loathsome reptile . But he possessed a compassionate heart which not even religious prejudice could harden into stone . `` God forbid that I should leave this child to perish , though he comes of the accursed sect , '' said he to himself . `` Do we not all spring from an evil root ? Are we not all in darkness till the light doth shine upon us ? He shall not perish , neither in body nor , if prayer and instruction may avail for him , in soul . ''
He then spoke aloud and kindly to XXXXX , who had again hid his face in the cold earth of the grave : `` Was every door in the land shut against you , my child , that you have wandered to this unhallowed spot ? ''
Ilbrahim Puritan autumn heart night old people reptile supper supposition