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 Ilbrahim , 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 ? '' `` They drove me forth from the prison when they took my father thence , '' said the boy , `` and I stood afar off watching the crowd of people ; and when they were gone , I came hither , and found only this grave . I knew that my father was sleeping here , and I said , ` This shall be my home . ' '' `` No , child , no , not while I have a roof over my head or a morsel to share with you , '' exclaimed the Puritan , whose sympathies were now fully excited . `` Rise up and come with me , and fear not any harm . '' The boy wept afresh , and clung to the heap of earth as if the cold heart beneath it were warmer to him than any in a living breast . The traveller , however , continued to entreat him tenderly , and , seeming to acquire some degree of confidence , he at length arose ; but his slender limbs tottered with weakness , his little head grew dizzy , and he leaned against the tree of death for support . `` My poor boy , are you so feeble ? '' said the Puritan . `` When did you taste food last ? '' `` I ate of bread and water with my father in the prison , '' replied Ilbrahim , `` but they brought him none neither yesterday nor to-day , saying that he had eaten enough to bear him to his journey 's end . Trouble not thyself for my hunger , kind friend , for I have lacked food many times ere now . '' The traveller took the child in his arms and wrapped his cloak about him , while his heart stirred with shame and anger against the gratuitous cruelty of the instruments in this persecution . In the awakened warmth of his feelings he resolved that at whatever risk he would not forsake the poor little defenceless being whom Heaven had confided to his care . With this determination he left the accursed field and resumed the homeward path from which the wailing of the boy had called him .
The light and motionless burden scarcely impeded his progress , and he soon beheld the fire-rays XXXXX the windows of the cottage which he , a native of a distant clime , had built in the Western wilderness .
afar at from if in into that though while with