Read CHAPTER LXXX - WHO WAS LINA? of Mabel's Mistake , free online book, by Ann S. Stephens, on ReadCentral.com.

The sound of sleigh-bells stopping suddenly and a sharp knock at his own door, aroused Ben from his mournful prayers. He got up and turned the latch. To his astonishment, it was broad daylight. The persons who had aroused him were James and Ralph Harrington.

“Ben,” said Ralph, stepping eagerly forward, “tell us repeat to James what you refused to tell Lina. On your life, on your honor, dear old Ben: tell him whose child she is.”

“All that you know about her. I am sure there is something you can explain. If you ever loved her or care for me, speak out now. You said that she had gone off because you refused to tell her something.”

Ben had been praying in the presence of death, and there were both power and pathos in his voice as he clasped those rough hands and said:

“As the great God aloft is his witness! Ralph Harrington, Ben Benson spoke nothing but the truth when he said that ere.”

“But you will tell us, for her dear sake, you will tell us.”

“Yes, Master Ralph I will. Jist ask what you want to know, and I’ll tell it.”

“Who was she, Ben? I’ve asked my mother often, but she always answered, that the child, while a mere infant, was seen one day wandering on the banks of the river, quite alone. At night, she came up to the house, and was found asleep on the door-step from that day to this, she has never been inquired after, but dropped into the family naturally as a pet-bird. I loved her the better for having no friends for belonging entirely to us.”

Ben drew the back of one hand across his eyes and dropped into his lounging attitude again.

“But, yet, she had one friend, Mister Ralph.”

“And, who was that?”

“Ben Benson as carried her up to that ere identical door-step, and laid her down like the babes in the woods a knowing in his heart all the time, that Mrs. Harrington would take her in the minute she sot her eyes on her purty face.”

“You know who she was, then?”

“I ought to,” answered Ben, “for she was my own sister’s child.”

“Your sister’s child!”

“You wouldn’t a belaved it; for the mother of that gal was like a water lily, fresh from the pond, when I run away from hum and went to sea.”

“Well,” said Ralph, breathless.

“The old man died a little while after I ran off, and so the poor little thing was left alone, to fight her way through the world. She had more larning than ever could be driv into my brain, and went into a rich man’s family to larn his children their letters. There was a young feller in that house, as was likewise given to larning, a sickly, pale chap, just a going into consumption. This chap loved the orphan gal, and as her hard-hearted brother had deserted the helm, he stepped in and took the craft amost without a summons.”

“They got married somewhere down in York, and in less ’en three months arter, the poor, young feller died neither on ’em had plucked up courage enough to tell the proud, old father, and the young man was took off so suddenly at last, that he hadn’t no chance.”

“Lizzy was obliged to speak out arter this, but the certificate was amongst his things, and the old folks pretended that it never could be found. She didn’t know where to find the minister as married ’em, and so her husband’s own father turned her out of doors. When I came ashore two years arter, no one could tell me where she had gone; but a few months arter I cast anchor in this ere land-craft, my poor sister came here one night, leading a toddling little girl by the hand. That gal was Lina. My sister’s face was white as foam, when she came in. I asked her about the child, and she told me what I have been a telling you. In the night she went away. I had fell asleep, leaning against the wall, and didn’t know she was agoing. The baby was left behind on the husk-bed.

“The next thing, my sister wandered back to the lonesome place, where she and her baby had lived together, and without telling any one that she was sick, lay down and died.

“Ben Benson sat in his cabin all that day, and the little child went out and in like a lonesome bird, now a picking posies from the bank and agin crying by the cabin door. That miserable old feller never had but one guardian spirit on arth, and that ere night he thought of her, while the baby lay hived up in his bosom. So he took the child up as if it had been a little helpless lamb, and laid it down where that ere angel could find it.”

“And this was Lina!” exclaimed Ralph, with tears in his eyes. “I thank you, Ben.”

“You know this you are certain of her identity?” said James Harrington.

“I am sartin that she’s my own sister’s darter, and can swear to it afore God and man,” was Ben’s solemn reply. “But where is the gal? Is she found will she come back does she know as this ere old chap is her uncle?”

“She knows nothing,” said Ralph, shaking the hand which Ben extended while propounding these eager questions. “She is yonder in the sleigh, Ben no, not yet; she is ill, and the least excitement may do harm. Go and find us an entrance to the house; we have tried the doors, but no one seems astir my fa the General, is not home, I suppose”

“No,” answered Ben, believing what he said; “I haven’t seen the General about these four days.”

“And my mother?” inquired Ralph.

“She’s sartain to be there, poor lady,” answered Ben, shaking his head sorrowfully.

“Yes, yes, she’s pining about Lina, but that will soon be over bless the dear girl on second thought, if my mother is ill, I had better go myself; some of the servants must be up by this time. See, there she is, Ben, in the sleigh, muffled up in furs, poor little birdie. Go speak to her, but remember she is feeble as a babe, so be very quiet.”

“You can trust old Ben Benson for that ere,” cried the boatman, looking eagerly towards the sleigh; but with the first glance great tears came chasing each other down his cheeks, and all unconsciously he held out both arms, shouting, “my own, own little gal!”

There was a struggle in the sleigh, and with low murmurs of delight, Lina held forth her hand.

“Remember and keep cool,” said Ralph; then turning towards James, he said, “drive to the door, I will soon rouse the household.”

With these words he strode towards the house, eager to carry glad tidings to his mother.