The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-06-26

possibilities. He was an adventt1resOme
boy, and he finally concluded to run away
from his home. He remained concealed
until the twilight began to deepen, and
the quiet stars came out one by one. As
Max looked up, it seemed as if the eye
Of the all-sccing God was looking down
upon him from the pure depth above, and
better thoughts came into his heart. He
at length resolved to return home and re-
ly upon his father for protection and for
giveness. He gained the street, and
started homeward.
"You are the worst boy I ever saw!
There, that is the last want to see of
you!" His mothers thoughtless, impa-
tient words came to him now; and to his
heart, tender and penltent, they came
frcightcd with full meaning. lie sank
down upon the roadside and moancd, as
If in pain. Again there was short, de-
cisivc struggle in the boys mind. Then
he arose and again went on his way, but
his heart and his feet were turned from
his home.
Mrs. Fennimore was not troubled With
Max now. There was no dark footprints
on the floor when the days were wet.
The dog and cat rcposed side by side
upon the hearth-rug, unmolested. The
| sisters brought in no complaints; the
house was very still and quiet now. But
| oh, how desolatc? 1t was dcsolation
worse than death. What would she not
| give, if she could know, but for one night,
where the restless head was pillowed !!
! Mrs. Fcnnimorc went about her house.
cares like one distracted. Her thoughts
were continually with her son. She
thought of him as when at first he Law, Il
| smiling infant in her arms; of how deep
ly she had felt the responsibility Of this
heaven-imposed trust; how the babe grew
in strength and beauty, until he was Il
daily joy, but to look upon. And yet it
was the same winsomc child that now
brought her all this hcavincss of heart.
How had the change come about? Gradu-
ally the revelation came. How often,
when wearied in mind and body by her
household cares, and she giving way to a
spirit of trctfulness, and spoken i'm
patiently to her loving child, chilling the
warm affections of the little human
flower that looked to her for
its sunshine, and Hunting its finer SEN
sibilities; until he grew careless, indifler-
cnt and unmindful Of her wishes, and
render her obedience through fear, un,n-
spircd by love. And then the remem-
brance of the last words which she had
! spoken to her son, came back to her, and
filled her with Sorrow and rcmorse. What
IT they should be the last words he
should ever fall from her lips! The
thought was more than she could bear.
'My son! oh, my SON." she cried aloud
in an agony Of grief; but she felt that it
was too late, that he had passed beyond
the sound of her voice, and beyond the
reach Of her influence.
The days heightened into weeks, and
Mr.. Fcnnimorc gave up all search as
hopeless, and advertised for intelligence
from his missing boy. One day letter
came. 1t was written by farmers hand,
cramped by years of toll. It took the
whole family to dccipher it. But what
JOY it brought to them all for it con-
tanned information concerning Max He
was at the writer's house, safe and we'll.
Mr.. Fennimore lost no time in going in
quest of his son. 1t was with a feeling
OF unspeakablc thankfulncss that Mrs.
Fennimore clasped Max in her arms,
with all the depth and tenderness of !,
mothers love. This reception was 50
different from what Max had expected,
he threw his arms about her neck, and
wcpt glad tears of joy and repentance.
It would, perhaps, be needless to say
that Mrs. Fennimore never felt that Max
was a trouble again. And Max, seeing
the interest which she felt in his amuse-
ments, began to consult her in the con-
struction of his carts, windmills, water
wheels and the like; and Mrs. Fcnnimore
found real pleasure IN assisting him,
which she had never before dreamed nos
I siblc
But the noisy period of boys cx-
istcncc, although of sufficiently long du-
ration, does not last always AS Max
grew older, he took a greater interest in
reading and study. But the tender tie of
sympathy established between mother
and son still existed. She was still his
most intimate friend and counselor. Mr.
Fennimorc regarded this with deep graft
tication, for he knew that such influence
would not fail to develop perfect man
hood.-Mrs. 4. d. Chamberlain, in West
| ern Rn7nl