ad of my own between them that they might
not go forth into the world entirely destitute. I could not really blame
the boys, for their father's harsh words, day by day, was like the
continual dropping which wears the stone, and the poor boys were fairly
tired and worn out with being continually censured and blamed. With a
heart heavy with a sorrow which only a mother can know, I walked with
the boys to the turn of the road where they were to wait for the stage.
I felt sorrowful enough but I kept back my tears till the hour sounded
which announced the arrival of the stage. They both shook hands with me
and kissed me, and poor Reuben, the youngest, cried as if his heart
would break.

"The sight of my youngest boy's tears affected me beyond the power of
control, and the tears were very bitter which we all shed together, but
the stage was fast approaching, and we must control our grief, 'Good
bye, mother,' said the boys at last as they left me to take their places
in the stage coach, 'Don't fret about us; we will try to do right and
remember all you have said to us, and let us hope there are happier days
to come, for us all.'

"These were their last words to me, and they were swiftly borne from my
sight by the fleet horses of the stage-coach. This was five years ago
last October." "But did they never come back," said I, looking in the
old woman's face with a feeling of deep pity. "Bless you child, no,"
said she, "their father won't allow even their names to be spoken
in his hearing. When the boys left home, they went to the State of
Massachusetts, where they both learned a trade, and are doing well; they
often write to me and send me money to buy any little thing I may want.
About two years ago in one of their letters they asked me to talk to
their father, and try to persuade him to forgive them; they also wished
to gain his consent that they might return home for a visit, 'for,' said
they, 'since we have grown up to manhood it has caused us much sorrow
that we must live estranged from our father. Mother, we have long since
cast aside the boyish resentment we may once have cherished, and would
be glad to return and inform our father by word that we still feel for
him the affection due from children to parents; we would gladly forget
the past and be at peace for the future.' I feared to speak of this
letter to my husband, but the strong desire to see my dear boys again
gave me courage, and one day when he seemed in a better