- end_line
- 1102
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:05.590Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1033
- text
- After resting under a hedge, he saw the sun far descended, and so
prepared himself for another hard night. Waiting till dark, he crawled
into an old carriage-house, finding nothing there but a dismantled old
phaeton. Into this he climbed, and curling himself up like a
carriage-dog, endeavored to sleep; but, unable to endure the constraint
of such a bed, got out, and stretched himself on the bare boards of the
floor.
No sooner was light in the east than he fastened to await the commands
of one who, his instinct told him, was destined to prove his
benefactor. On his father’s farm accustomed to rise with the lark,
Israel was surprised to discover, as he approached the house, that no
soul was astir. It was four o’clock. For a considerable time he walked
back and forth before the portal ere any one appeared. The first riser
was a man servant of the household, who informed Israel that seven
o’clock was the hour the people went to their work. Soon after he met
an hostler of the place, who gave him permission to lie on some straw
in an outhouse. There he enjoyed a sweet sleep till awakened at seven
o’clock by the sounds of activity around him.
Supplied by the overseer of the men with a large iron fork and a hoe,
he followed the hands into the field. He was so weak he could hardly
support his tools. Unwilling to expose his debility, he yet could not
succeed in concealing it. At last, to avoid worse imputations, he
confessed the cause. His companions regarded him with compassion, and
exempted him from the severer toil.
About noon the knight visited his workmen. Noticing that Israel made
little progress, he said to him, that though he had long arms and broad
shoulders, yet he was feigning himself to be a very weak man, or
otherwise must in reality be so.
Hereupon one of the laborers standing by informed the gentleman how it
was with Israel, when immediately the knight put a shilling into his
hands and bade him go to a little roadside inn, which was nearer than
the house, and buy him bread and a pot of beer. Thus refreshed he
returned to the band, and toiled with them till four o’clock, when the
day’s work was over.
Arrived at the house he there again saw his employer, who, after
attentively eyeing him without speaking, bade a meal be prepared for
him, when the maid presenting a smaller supply than her kind master
deemed necessary, she was ordered to return and bring out the entire
dish. But aware of the danger of sudden repletion of heavy food to one
in his condition, Israel, previously recruited by the frugal meal at
the inn, partook but sparingly. The repast was spread on the grass, and
being over, the good knight again looking inquisitively at Israel,
ordered a comfortable bed to be laid in the barn, and here Israel spent
a capital night.
After breakfast, next morning, he was proceeding to go with the
laborers to their work, when his employer approaching him with a
benevolent air, bade him return to his couch, and there remain till he
had slept his fill, and was in a better state to resume his labors.
Upon coming forth again a little after noon, he found Sir John walking
alone in the grounds. Upon discovering him, Israel would have
retreated, fearing that he might intrude; but beckoning him to advance,
the knight, as Israel drew nigh, fixed on him such a penetrating
glance, that our poor hero quaked to the core. Neither was his dread of
detection relieved by the knight’s now calling in a loud voice for one
from the house. Israel was just on the point of fleeing, when
overhearing the words of the master to the servant who now appeared,
all dread departed:
“Bring hither some wine!”
It presently came; by order of the knight the salver was set down on a
green bank near by, and the servant retired.
- title
- Chunk 3