She was looking steadily into the blaze, with a calm, heart-broken expression, very different from her former agitated wildness.
"Did you want me ?" said Mrs.Bird, in gentle tones.

"I hope you feel better now, poor woman!" A long-drawn, shivering sigh was the only answer; but she lifted her dark eyes, and fixed them on her with such a forlorn and imploring expression, that the tears came into the little woman's eyes.
"You needn't be afraid of anything; we are friends here, poor woman! Tell me where you came from, and what you want," said she.
"I came from Kentucky," said the woman.
"When ?" said Mr.Bird, taking up the interogatory.
"Tonight." "How did you come ?" "I crossed on the ice." "Crossed on the ice!" said every one present.
"Yes," said the woman, slowly, "I did.

God helping me, I crossed on the ice; for they were behind me--right behind--and there was no other way!" "Law, Missis," said Cudjoe, "the ice is all in broken-up blocks, a swinging and a tetering up and down in the water!" "I know it was--I know it!" said she, wildly; "but I did it! I wouldn't have thought I could,--I didn't think I should get over, but I didn't care! I could but die, if I didn't.

The Lord helped me; nobody knows how much the Lord can help 'em, till they try," said the woman, with a flashing eye.
"Were you a slave ?" said Mr.Bird.
"Yes, sir; I belonged to a man in Kentucky." "Was he unkind to you ?" "No, sir; he was a good master." "And was your mistress unkind to you ?" "No, sir--no! my mistress was always good to me." "What could induce you to leave a good home, then, and run away, and go through such dangers ?" The woman looked up at Mrs.Bird, with a keen, scrutinizing glance, and it did not escape her that she was dressed in deep mourning.
"Ma'am," she said, suddenly, "have you ever lost a child ?" The question was unexpected, and it was thrust on a new wound; for it was only a month since a darling child of the family had been laid in the grave.
Mr.Bird turned around and walked to the window, and Mrs.Bird burst into tears; but, recovering her voice, she said, "Why do you ask that?
I have lost a little one." "Then you will feel for me.

I have lost two, one after another,--left 'em buried there when I came away; and I had only this one left.