God bless you.

May you never know the sorrow of losing a first-born." Years after he remembered those random words.

But now he only thought that if the brat should die, there would be only one pauper less in Bickerton.

And so thinking, mounted and rode on his way.
He rode fast, and was soon at home.

He had put his horse in the stable, and, shoeless, was creeping up to bed, when, as he passed his father's door, it opened, and the old man came out, light in hand.
He was a very infirm old man, much bent, though evidently at one time he had been of great stature.