Part 13 (2/2)

”He is not a son worthy of affection and regard.”

”Andrew! when the sons of men wandered far away from G.o.d, and broke all his laws, did He turn from them as you have turned from this erring boy? No! All day long He stretched forth His hands to them, and said, in a voice full of infinite kindness, 'Return unto Me; why will you die?' It is not G.o.dlike to be angry at those who sin against us; but G.o.dlike to draw them back with cords of love from error. Oh, Andrew! you have wronged this boy!”

”Esther! I will not hear the utterance of such language from any one!” exclaimed Mr. Howland, whose imperious nature could ill brook an accusation like this.

”I have uttered only what I believe to be true,” answered the wife, in a milder tone, yet with a firmness that showed her spirit to be unsubdued. No further words pa.s.sed between them. Half an hour afterward, up to which time Andrew had not come home, Mr. Howland left the house and went to his place of business.

Time pa.s.sed on until nearly noon, and yet Andrew was still away.

Mrs. Howland, whose mind was in a state of strong excitement, could bear her suspense and fear no longer, and she resolved to go out and seek for her wandering son. She had dressed herself, and was just taking up her bonnet, as the door of her room opened, and Andrew came in, looking pale and distressed. Across his forehead was a deep, red mark, the scar left by the wound he received, when he fell on the pavement, in the attempt to escape from the watchman.

”My son!” exclaimed Mrs. Howland, in a voice that thrilled the poor boy's heart--for it was full of sympathy and tenderness--and then she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Overcome by this reception, Andrew wept aloud. As soon as he could speak, he said--

”Indeed, indeed, mother! I am innocent. You wouldn't let me in last night, and I was going to sleep in the building, when the watchman came and said I meant to set it on fire! I'm bad enough, mother, but not so wicked as that! Why should I set a house on fire?”

”I didn't believe it for a moment, Andrew,” replied Mrs. Howland.

”But, oh! isn't it dreadful?”

”I'm not to blame, mother,” said the weeping boy. ”I didn't mean to stay out later than ten. But I was deceived in the time. I was a good way off when the clock struck, and I ran home as fast as I could. I'm sure it wasn't ten minutes after when I rang the bell.

But n.o.body would let me in; not even _you_, mother--and I thought so hard of _that!_”

With what a pang did these last words go through the heart of Mrs.

Howland.

”I wanted to let you in,” replied the mother, ”but your father said that I must not do so.”

”And so you left me to sleep in the streets,” said the boy, with much bitterness. ”I couldn't have turned a dog off in that way!”

”Don't, don't speak so, Andrew! You will break my heart!” returned the mother, sobbing, ”I did open the door for you, but you were not there.”

”I knocked and rung a good while.”

”I know. But I had to wait until your father was asleep. Then I went down, but it was too late.”

”Yes--yes, it was too late,” said Andrew, speaking now in a firmer voice. ”And it is too late now. I am to be tried as a felon, and it may be, will be sent to the State Prison. Oh, dear!”

And he covered his face with his hands, and sobbed.

What little comfort she had to offer her unhappy child, was offered by Mrs. Howland. But few rays of light came through the heavy clouds that enveloped both of their hearts.

At dinner time, Andrew declined meeting his father at the table.

”Go and tell him,” said the unyielding man, when the servant, who had been sent to his room to call him to dinner, came back and said that he did not wish to come down, ”that he cannot have a mouthful to eat unless he comes to the table.”

”No, no, Andrew--don't say that!” quickly spoke Mrs. Howland.

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