A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court by Mark Twain Chapter 35 Page 18

feet with delight over what it took for romp and play.

Even the hangman couldn’t stand it, but turned away. When all was ready the priest gently pulled and tugged and forced the child out of the mother’s arms, and stepped quickly out of her reach; but she clasped her hands, and made a wild spring toward him, with a shriek; but the rope — and the under-sheriff — held her short. Then she went on her knees and stretched out her hands and cried:

“One more kiss — oh, my God, one more, one more, — it is the dying that begs it!”

She got it; she almost smothered the little thing. And when they got it away again, she cried out:

“Oh, my child, my darling, it will die! It has no home, it has no father, no friend, no mother —