River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-03-24

a second time, thought should shrek
aloud.
Then l remembered that | had
sinned, not only against mother, but
against God. | asked His pardon and
got it, Just as she reached the last
stanza:
Go FOR my wandering boy tonight;
Go search for him where you Will:
But bring him to me with all his blight,
And tell him l love him still
Then came the refrain:
Oh where is my boy tonight?
where is my boy tonight"
when she sang the second where
with all the emphasis her genius, her
longing, her mother heart could give it.,
the agony of her soul drew me to my
feet, and | walked up the aisle toward
her with my arms outstretched. Fur
Their words died on her lips, the O.
ganist ceased playing, and in wonder
ing surprise, turned to look at my
mother. For the briefest moment
silence reigned, then l sobbed like any
child:
Here | am, mother
How could carefully studied melo-
drama have been better acted? Mother
came hastily down the choir steps and
folded me in her arms. Then DR.. Darby
seized one hand and father took the
other The organist struck the chords
OF Old Hundred and almost as one
voice, the congregation burst into the
Doxology: Praise God, from Whom all
blessings how,' and | think they sang
it about ten times while they were shak-
ing hands with me.
All that was more than two years
ago. l date different life from that
night"
But you have never heard the song
under quite such dramatic circum-
stances, Harry"
Il am not so sure about that. l heard
my own words to my mother repeated
last summer under vastly different cir
cumstances, though perhaps you will
say they were as remarkable as what
1 have Just related.
Last summer l was making a horse
back survey in southeastern Kentucky.
\ local preacher, by the name of Logan,
was guiding me, and | was to stay at
his house one night.
Several days previous he had come
upon party Of gamblers in the woods.
His son Thomas was one of the number,
but he had impartially reported all of
them to the grand jury; they had heard
Of it, and had been in hiding ever since.
With Spartan-like determination he
had resolved that his son should suffer
with the rest, but his wife was deeply
grieycd at the circumstance, and felt
indignant that a father should i'm
molate a son in any such way.
Il knew nothing of these facts when
Mr. Logan and | reached the house. l
could see that all relations were not
thoroughly cordial, but could not sur
mise the disturbing cause.
"After supper we sat in the soft,
June moonlight, and Mr.. Logan asked
ne to sing. Mrs. Logan was sitting
father out in the yard near the office
as the boys building in some southern
front yards is called.
After several other pieces, thought
of Where Is My Boy Tonight" My
mind reverted to that blessed Sunday
night in Eyettsburg, and my mothers
longing seemed to fill my own soul,
50 that the singing was particularly eX-
pressive We were in a cove where
rocky precipices hung near, and my
words seemed to climb the cliffs and
enter all their gloomy crevices and
cayerns with the wild, despairing query
Of the weird refrain. don't think |
was stuck on my own voice but l
could not help knowing that l was
singing well. and felt fine eXhilar
alton in the surroundings.
Mr. and Mrs. Logan were facing me,
and did not see what saw as started
on the last stanza. A young man
walked from the shadow of the fir tree
to the Office. He lifted his finger in
warning to me, and l proceeded with
the singing as though nothing had hap
pened, but watched him narrowly, al
though | could not believe that he
meant harm when acting so openly. He
stood still in the shadow of the office
until finished.
There was silence for a moment,
then Mrs. Logan arose in a bewildered
way, tossed her arms wildly and
moaned, not loud but with searching,
penetrating force: oh, where is my
boy tonight"
The figure in the shadow cried aloud
the words: Here am, mother!'
she turned as Logan and | sprang
to our feet. Tommy! Tommy she
murmurcd, as the strong, young fellow
folded her in filial embrace!
Logan said, as severely as possible:
Young man. do you know that you are
wanted by the grand jury"
Yes, father, but the song | ju.t
beard and mothers heart-brea<ing wall
me to stand my trial and
pay the penalty like man. l wag
slluking near the house in order to
Get provisions to keep me until after
the court would adjourn. Now | will
stay here tonight, and tomorrow 1
will go to town and plead guilty. Then
| shall never gamble again, please God!
amen said the father, and the son
added Mother, you will never again
have to ask in earnest: Where is my
hoy tonight -" Union Signal.