Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-04-22

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brain with the thought that she was
! -dXing.-The- peculiarly CONS
posed, rs yon know, gives the impress
sion of a wall, and when she reached it
Il second time, thought / should shrek
aloud
"Thcn l remembered that l had
sinncd, not only against mother. but
against God. I asked Ills pardon and
got it, just as she reached the last
/ stanZa:
'"Co ror my wandering boy tonight;
Go search for hir where you viii;
But bring him t. me wish an his blight
And tell him ! love him still
Then came the refrain:
on where is ny hoy tonight?
O where IS my boy to-night?'
"Whcu she SANG the second where
with all the emphasis her genius. her
longing, her mother heart could give il,
the agony OF her soul drew me to my
feet, and | walked up The aisle toward
her with my arms outstrctched. Fur
Their words died on her lips, the or
ganst ceased playing, and in wonder
ing surprise, turned 10 look at my
mother. For the uriefest moment
silence rcigned, theu / sobbed like any
child:
Here | am, mothor.'
"IIoW could carefully studied mclo-
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
DoNology: Praise God, from Whom all
blessings flow and | think they sang
itabout ten times while they were shak-
ing hands with me
All that was more than two years
ago. l date a 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. heard
my own words 20 my mother repeated
last summer under vastly different cir
cunstances, though perhaps you will
say they were as remarkable as what
l have just related.
Last summer | was making horse
back survey in southeastern Kentucky.
y 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 10 the grand jury: they had heard
OF it, and had been i'm hiding ever since.
With Spartan-like determination he
had resolved that his son should suffer
with the rest. but his wife was deeply
Gricycd at the circumstance. and felt
indignant that a father should i'm
molatc son i'm any such way.
After supper we sat in the soft, !
juno moonlight. and Mr.. Logan asked /
ne to sing. Mrs. Logan was sitting
father out i'm the gard near the office /
as the boys buildingfn some southern /
front yards is called.
after several other pieces. l thought
OF Where Is My Boy To-Night| My |
mind reverted to that blessed Sunday ]
night i'm Eyettsburg, and my mothers |
longing seemed to I'll my own soul, |
o that the singing was particularly ex-
prcSSiyc We were in a cove where
rocky precipiccs hung near. and my
words seemed TO climb the cliffs and |
enter all their gloomy crevices and
'ayerns with the wild. dcspairiug query
IF the weird refrain. | don't think /
was stuck on my own voice. but |
'ould not help knowing that | was
singing well, and | felt fine exhilar-
alton in the surroundings.
Mr.. and Mrs. Logan were facing me.
md did not see what | saw as | started
IN the last stanza. \ young man
walked from the shadow of the fir tree
o the Office. lie lifted his finger in
10 me, and / proceeded with
he singing as though nothing had hap
'ened, but watched him narrowly, al
hough ! could not believe that he
meant harm when acting so openly. He
TODD still in the shadow of the office
until finished.
There was silence for a moment,
hen Mrs. Logan arose i'm bewildered
way, tossed her arms wildly and
noaucd. not loud. but with searching.
force: oh, where is my
10Y to-nightg
"Thc figure in the shadow cried aloud
he words: Here am, mother.'
"Shc turned as Logan and l sprang
o our feet Tommy! Tommy she
lurnlured. as the strong, young fellow
olded her in Glial embrace.
logan said, as severely rs possible:
Young man. do YOU know that you are
-anted by the grand jury"
yes. father, but the song 1 Just
card and mothers heart-breaking wall
etermined me 10 stand my trial and s
ay the penalty like n man. wal
iulking near the house i'm order TO
ct provisions to keep me until after
le court would adjourn. Now | will ,
ay here tonight, and tomorrow I 9
i'll 60 20 town and plead guilty. Then {
shall never C9nbio a~aiu. please Godv I