Part 7
MR, M. paused to await the effect of his words. At a sign from him, Richard left the room, and the two men stood opposite each other. The moment had now come that the unhappy man could no longer conceal the secret that weighed him down to the earth, and he made an open, repentant confession. He had confessed his sin to God, and how true the scripture,
The conversation between the men lasted more than two hours, and when Mr. M. again entered their little cottage, he said to his wife in a cheerful tone,
“Our neighbor has found settled peace. The Lord be praised for it! He has, as he himself said, for the first time in his life revealed a secret to a fellow-being which caused him the most terrible misery for many years. As he has permitted me to tell it to you also, dear wife, I shall do so,
“Many years ago this little cottage was inhabited by a family who, like us desired to enjoy the country air during the summer months. In this family were several children, one of them a boy of our Richard’s age. Mr. Vilers, who was then already a widower, had also a son whom he loved as the apple of his eye, and as he could scarcely bear to be an hour without his darling, he had a teacher from town in order to educate him at home.
“Now the boy had formed a deep affection for the son of their neighbor, and every play-hour saw them together, though Mr. Vilers had strictly forbidden it. Neither caresses nor chastisements were of any avail. The more Mr. Vilers sought to hinder their friendship, the more it increased.
“On returning from a walk one day, he beheld the two boys at play under the apple tree in the garden, and overpowered by rage, sprang over the hedge in order to end the matter by giving his son a good thrashing. No sooner, however, had the neighbor’s son seen his flashing eyes, than he sought to escape by flight, but in doing so ran with such violence against the apple-tree that he fell to the ground in an unconscious state. Without noticing this, the furious man seized his own child, struck him violently, and shut him up for a whole day in a dark cellar as a punishment.
Half an hour after, loud lamentations were heard from the neighbor’s home, and the sad news reached Mr. Vilers’ ears that their son had lost his life in a most mysterious manner.
“The poor parents were not to be comforted; but as no one had witnessed the terrible occurrence, the real cause of death was not known. From this hour, however, two beings were very miserable. Mr. Vilers felt the bitter sting of a guilty conscience, and his little son looked upon him as the disturber of his happiness. And when, soon after, the corpse of his playfellow was borne to the burial ground, all the boy’s happiness seemed buried with him. He sighed constantly for his companion; he pined away visibly; and was almost always to be seen standing by the thorn hedge gazing fixedly on the apple tree. All the endeavors of his father to lead his thoughts to other things were fruitless. His distress daily increased, and at last even the physician declared that there was no hope of his recovery.
Who can describe the bitter sorrow that now reigned in the father’s heart? Every day he had the consequences of his violence before his eyes, and thus some months passed away.
The winter had gone, and the first days of spring had come. On a lovely morning in May the boy implored his father to carry him into the garden in his chair, and when according to his request he was put down at the thorn-hedge, a smile of joy lighted up his wan features, while his eyes fixed on the tree under which he had once played with his little friend. But, alas! it was only the last flicker of expiring life. A few minutes more, and the child’s weary head sank down on his breast—the spirit had fled, to the father’s bitter and inconsolable grief.
“And now, dear wife,” concluded Mr. M., “our neighbor’s state of mind will no longer be a mystery to you. An evil conscience gnawed daily at his heart until reason itself was at times overturned. O, how blessed that the Lord has at length had mercy on this unhappy man, and has given him that peace which passeth all understanding. The Gospel was the best, the only remedy for him, and now he places all his trust in Him, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace!” (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)).
Mr. M. concluded his narration with fervent praise for the great things the Lord had done. The affection of the old man for his little friend Richard grew very warm. The hours of their country life passed calmly away, and when the family had returned to town for the winter, frequent visits were paid to the lonely but now cheerful farm, where they were always received with a joyful welcome by the happy and grateful old man.
“Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:7,87That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:7‑8).
Concluded.
ML 06/25/1933