PART 11
The little narrator paused, because his eyes became heavy with sleep. But the old lady, whose curiosity had been aroused, desired to know more. She had followed the boy’s talk with the closest attention.
“Tell me a little more about your far thee, my boy.”
William told in his child-like and true-hearted manner, all that had happened in the last months and weeks before his father’s death. He did not neglect to tell what his father had said about his young years, what a naughty boy he had been, and how he had run away from his God-fearing mother, a widow. He told further with clearness—for it had made a deep impression on him—how thoroughly his father repented of the sins of his youth, and how he had longed to see his mother once more before his death, and to ask her forgiveness, and how he had become so happy through faith in the Lord Jesus, and had, in peace, gone home to be with Him.
While William spoke, the eyes of the old lady opened more and more and bending over him, she listened to the tale of the little one. When he had finished, she began to tremble violently, so she sat down on the edge of the bed to keep from falling. Was it possible that William’s father ... .?
Ah, she feared to finish the thought. He son, too, had left her many years ago, in disobedience and stubbornness, and she never had heard a word; and only the heavy sobs, rising from time to time, gave evidence of the inward feelings. William noticed the terrible excitement of the old lady, but did not know what to think of it. At last she asked with trembling voice:
“What was your father’s name?” “Robert H.” replied the boy.
“Gracious God,” she cried, lifting her eyes heavenward and folding her hands tightly together; “is it possible? O, how wonderful! Thy ways are past finding out! Robert H. was my son, my only son! And he died as you have said? O, then my prayers are answered. God be praised! My son has not died in his sins, but come to himself and returned, like the lost son to the father’s house.”
The old lady stopped a moment. The surprise was too great, the excitement too much. William was sitting in the bed and stared speechless at the old woman. She continued again after a while:
“And you are the son of Robert H., my boy? Then you are my grandchild and I am your grandmother! Has the Lord sent you, poor child, to me to find a home and that I might have comfort and help in my old days? O Lord, how great is Thy kindness. Thy name be praised forever!”
After saying this she took William in her arms and kissed him tenderly. The dear boy did not know what was happening to him. He had experienced so many things, and now, so late at night, this unexpected meeting with his grandmother! He could not comprehend it and could find no words to express his feelings. When he recovered at last from his amazement, he said:
“This is a wonderful day; how good it was my brothers took me into the forest. Otherwise I would not have come here, nor ever found my grandmother. O, how good! I thought I had no friend on the earth except Caesar, and now God has led me here!”
Both shed tears of joy together. After the first excitement was over, nature made her damands and our little happy friend’s eyes began to close, and the next minute he was sound asleep. His grandmother did not think of sleeping for a good while; her heart was full of joy and thanksgiving, and all traces of fatigue were gone. She sat down at the table and put her horn eye-glasses on and read in a low and trembling voice the 103rd Psalm. Yes, the Lord had done great things for her and had satisfied her with good things in her old age. Again and again, she would say in a low voice:
Then she knelt down to thank and praise the God of all grace for His boundless goodness. O, her son, who had once caused her so much sorrow, and grief, but for whom the mother’s heart had reserved the same love, had gone home with faith in his Redeemer; had gone where she would soon see him again, and, also, the Lord had sent this dear grandchild to her in such a wonderful way.
ML 03/19/1939