THE autumn months passed, and winter came with its storms and frosts. The men stayed at home now. The woman and Charlie worked busily, plaiting baskets and mats. As he was feeling more contented by this time, he began to tell them more about his home, and what he had learned while there. They were most attentive when he told them about God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and about the Holy Bible. They liked to hear the Old Testament stories, and the works of the Lord Jesus, and they were deeply touched by His sufferings on the cross. Sometimes he raised his clear voice to sing a hymn for them. Oh! how he wished that he had been more attentive at Sunday-school and at home when his father read the Bible, for he could only tell them what he knew by heart. More than once he said to them: “Our God is a great God and a God of love, but I have deeply grieved Him through my carelessness and disobedience.” How he wished to possess a Bible, so, he could read to these poor heathens.
At last the winter months were past, and Charlie’s heart leaped for joy when he saw the birds coming back to their bushes again. Their merry singing told him spring had come. He would have liked to ask the Indians when they would start on their trip, but he knew that his anxiety would anger them, so he quietly waited. He noticed the face of his Indian mother daily growing sadder, for she could not bear the thought of the boy, whom she had learned to love, leaving her. At last the long-looked-for day came. The two men began to load the canoe with the goods they had made during the winter. When everything was ready for them to start, the woman suddenly said: “I’ll go along.” Room was made for her, and they started off. During the whole trip, which lasted a great deal longer than last year, because they went up stream, Charlie was very near his Indian mother, who sat thoughtfully with her arms around Charlie’s neck. Not a word did she utter. Poor woman, her first son she had lost by death, and now she must give up her second. As they were nearing the place where Charlie should get off, her heart nearly broke, tear after tear rolled down her bony cheeks. Charlie understood something of her sorrow. He stood up, threw his arms around her, laid his head on her shoulder, and thus they remained embraced for a long time. Charlie dearly loved the poor woman, who had been such an affectionate mother to him; so he begged her to accompany him to his parents. “No, no,” she sobbed, “I could not bear to see my darling in the arms of his mother. I had hoped to keep you as my own son, and now I have to go back again, lonely and forsaken, Go to your mother, my son!” A stream of tears covered her cheeks, and her whole body trembled. Again and again she pressed the deeply moved boy on her heart and covered him with kisses. The canoe in the meantime neared the spot where Charlie had bathed the year before. Another last embrace, and shaking hands with the men, Charlie sprang on shore, while the canoe pushed from land at once. As long as the canoe was in sight, he was gazing after it thoughtfully. Hardly had it vanished around the nearest bend, when he wiped away his tears, and ran as fast as his feet could carry him towards his home. It was towards evening; the sun was sinking in the west. The door was standing open. With beating heart, Charlie stepped in, wondering whether his father or mother would know him in his Indian costume. The father sat at the window reading the Bible. He looked up with surprise, as Charlie stepped in; but did not know him. Then his mother came in from the next room. For a moment she gazed at the strange boy; then with a loud cry, sprang and closed him in her arms, laughing and weeping, covering him with kisses, and in turn came Father and Frieda, too. “O, Father! O, Mother! can you forgive my disobedience?” sobbed Charlie. Fresh embracing and joyfulness was the answer for this short confession. Charlie passed from the arms of one to the other for some time, before he could speak; and then he began to tell his wonderful story. He described his adventures from the time he was drowning, up to the present moment. He praised the kindness and love shown him by the poor Indians, and did not hold back how the Lord had spoken to his heart, and had shown him his lost condition, but had forgiven him, by His grace through the Lord Jesus Christ. With special love he told of his Indian mother—that is what he called her now—and they all regretted that she did not respond to his invitation.
When Charlie had finished his account and answered all questions, his father fell on his knees, and all followed his example. He fervently thanked God for sending back his long-lost son. For a long time the happy family sat together, and Charlie had to repeat the events during his absence, especially little Frieda, had many questions to ask. It was midnight before they got to bed. Next day the news of Charlie’s return spread like a prairie fire, and from all sides, the neighbors came to greet Charlie and congratulate the parents. Never did Charlie give his parents another cause to complain of his disobedience. He had learned a lesson which was a blessing to him through time and eternity.
ML 12/02/1900