Part 44 (1/2)
”You--you _sure_?”
”Why, Ikey!” she cried, astonished.
”Alvays I--I like to t'ink de oder t'ing.”
”What other thing?”
”Dat you vas found in de basket.”
Balcome laughed, and Sue laughed with him. Even Ikey, guessing that he had inadvertently been more than usually witty, allowed a smile to come into those wet eyes.
”There!” cried Sue, putting both arms about him. ”Momsey forgives.”
”T'ank you. Und now I like to question--you don't go avay mit de preacher?”
”No! No!” Sue blushed like a girl.
”Den you don't marry mit him.”
”N-n-n-n-no!”
”You feel better, don't you, old man?” inquired Balcome.
”Yes.--If I vas growed up, I vould marry mit her myself.”
”Now little flattering chorister,” said Sue, ”there's something Momsey wants you to do. She'll have to leave here very soon. And before she goes she wants to hear that splendid voice again. So you go to the choirmaster, and ask him if he'll get all the boys together for Miss Susan, and have them sing something--something full of happiness, and hope.”
”Momsey, can it be 'O Mutter Dear, Jerusalem?'”
”Do you like that best?”
”I like it awful much! De first part, she has Mutter in it; und--und also Jerusalem.”
Sue kissed him. ”And the second verse Momsey likes----
_'O happy harbor of G.o.d's Saints!
O sweet and pleasant soil!
In Thee no sorrow can be found, Nor grief, nor care, nor toil!'_”
”It's grand!” sighed Ikey.
”You ask the choirmaster if you may sing it. And if he lets you----”
”Goot!” He started away bravely enough. But the Church door reached, he turned and came slowly back. ”Momsey,” he faltered, ”I don't remember my mutter. Vould you, now, mind if--just vonce before you go--if I called _you_--mutter?”
She put out her arms to him. ”Oh, my son! My son!”
With a cry, he flung himself into her embrace, weeping. ”Oh, mutter!
Mutter! Mutter!”