The Torn Bible; Or, Hubert's Best Friend

								


Produced by Chris Curnow, Griff Evans, Lindy Walsh and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

                                   THE

                               TORN BIBLE

                                   OR

                         HUBERT'S BEST FRIEND



                                   BY

                             ALICE SOMERTON

                      AUTHOR OF "LAYTON CROFT" ETC.

                                 LONDON

                         FREDERICK WARNE AND CO.

                              AND NEW YORK

                             TO GLANVILLE

                                  AND

                       HIS EIGHT SCHOOLFELLOWS.

Perhaps, dear boys, you wonder why I should have dedicated this little
book to you: it is that you may feel a deeper interest in it, and
imbibe, from reading it, an earnest love and reverence for your Bible,
which, like a good angel, can guide you safely through the world as
long as you live. Like Hubert's mother, I ask you to read a portion
every day; and, whatever be the battle of life you may have to fight,
may God's blessing attend you, making you humble towards Him, dutiful
to your parents, and a blessing to mankind.

                               Believe me,

                                     Yours affectionately,

                                               ALICE SOMERTON.

                            THE TORN BIBLE.

CHAPTER I.
HUBERT'S DEPARTURE FROM HOME.



                   May thy goodness

    Share with thy birthright! * * * *

    * * * What heaven more will

    That these may furnish and my prayers pluck down,

    Fall on thy head! Farewell.--SHAKESPEARE.

The rural and picturesque village of Hulney, in the north of England,
is a charming place; it is almost surrounded with well-wooded hills,
and the little rivulets, which ever murmur down their sides, run into
the limpid stream along the banks of which most of the cottages are
built.
At the north end of the village, on the slope of a hill, is the church,
so thickly covered with ivy that the only portions of the stonework
visible are part of the ancient tower and the chancel window.
Legend and historic fact hang their mantle round this old church.
History tells us that the brave, yet often cruel, Margaret, wife of
Henry VI., fled there after a defeat in one of her battles; and it is
also recorded that one hundred of the heroes of Flodden Field rested
there on their return from the victory. Modern times have added to the
interest which clings to this old place, and one thing especially which
draws attention will form the subject of this story.
In that old churchyard, where the children of many generations lie side
by side, there is many a touching or interesting record; but the
stranger ever lingers the longest near seven white grave-stones, all
bearing the name of Goodwin. Upon the one which has the most recent