The children, alarmed, gather around, the youngest asking
for papa, for the mother never spoke with them but of him. She
loved him because he had such a good heart, and now this good
heart was not with them; but, on the contrary, away on all kinds
of business, which brought him only unhappiness; consequently,
they were unhappy too.
"Oh, that no harm had come to him to-day! Canute was so excitable!
Why did Lars come home alone? why didn't he stop?"
Should she run after him, or, in the opposite direction, toward
her husband? She felt faint, and the children pressed around her,
asking what was the matter; but this could not be told to them, so
she said they must take supper alone, and, rising, arranged it and
helped them. She was constantly glancing out upon the road. He did
not come. She undressed and put them to bed, and the youngest
repeated the evening prayer, while she bowed over him, praying so
fervently in the words which the tiny mouth first uttered, that
she did not perceive the steps outside.
Canute stood in the doorway, gazing upon his little congregation
at prayer. She rose; all the children shouted "Papa!" but he
seated himself, and said gently:
"Oh! let him repeat it."
The mother turned again to the bedside, that meantime he might not
see her face; otherwise, it would have been like intermeddling
with his grief before he felt a necessity of revealing it. The
child folded its hands,--the rest followed the example,--and it
said:
"I am now a little lad, But soon shall grow up tall, And make papa
and mamma glad, I'll be so good to all! When in Thy true and holy
ways, Thou dear, dear God wilt help me keep;--Remember now Thy
name to praise And so we'll try to go to sleep!"
What a peace now fell! Not a minute more had passed ere the
children all slept in it as in the lap of God; but the mother went
quietly to work arranging supper for the father, who as yet could
not eat.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75