The Lost Kitty Part 3

"I was so disgusted, Fred, with the want of grat.i.tude to their hardworking mother, and, indeed, with the absence of common civility, I may have thought more on the subject; but I trust you will find, wherever you go, that those who are most grateful to G.o.d for his mercies are most inclined to thank each other."

CHAPTER V.

THE UNGRATEFUL SON.

"Hatty is all ready now, ma."

"It is not a very long story, my dear; but it shows G.o.d's displeasure at ingrat.i.tude to parents.

"In Birmingham, England, there once lived a family who were poor. The father died, at last, and all the younger children, leaving the widow with her two eldest sons. At this time, they had gone into business, and were able to a.s.sist her; but they forgot all she had done for them, often denying herself food that they might have enough. They forgot the days and nights she had watched by them in sickness; and, when she humbly entreated a little help, they refused her.

"She was so feeble that she could do little for her own support, and was obliged with great reluctance to apply to the parish for a.s.sistance.

"For two years she received the small sum of two shillings a week from the overseers of the poor, which, with a little help from some Christian friends, was all she had to live upon.

"During this time the younger of these two sons died; not peacefully on his bed, trusting that Jesus would forgive all his sins, but in the most terrible agony both of body and mind, cursing and raving because he must leave all his property, and go to a world of darkness.

"The eldest son was shrewd in his business, and in a few years became rich. He was still unmarried; but he refused again and again to a.s.sist his mother, though many persons applied to him in her behalf. He held offices of trust in the city, but still allowed his infirm mother to eke out her poor existence on the parish allowance.

"At last his ungrateful, inhuman conduct rendered him so notorious that he caused her name to be struck off the parish books, and allowed her the two shillings from his own pocket; but not a penny more, even when he was possessed of thousands of pounds.

"One day some friends of the old lady were a.s.sembled, among whom was her clergyman. They expressed great indignation at the base ingrat.i.tude of the son, and proposed that a remonstrance be drawn up.

"'No,' said the minister; 'if that man dies possessed of the property which he is now worth, I shall be greatly deceived. G.o.d will never suffer such base ingrat.i.tude to prosper.'

"Shortly after, the mother died a happy death, and very soon the prospects of her wicked son began to change. He met with great losses; and finally he was reduced to poverty as abject as his mother's had been. No one pitied him; but all felt his suffering was richly deserved, and was a just punishment for his sin."

"What a wicked man!" cried Frederick. "I would never do so; I would have you live with me, ma, and take care of you all your life."

Mrs. Carleton kissed her boy and softly whispered in his ear,--

"Thank you, my darling;" and then it was time for them to get their Bibles, and read aloud in turn. Afterward Mrs. Carleton knelt, and prayed for herself and her absent husband, and for their dear children, that G.o.d would make them sensible of all his blessings and would give them hearts to praise him for his great mercies.

Fred usually fell asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow; but this night he was very wakeful. The stories he had heard, both from his teacher and his mother, led him to think of the end of wicked men; and he resolved, as he had never done before, that, with G.o.d's help, he would try to be a consistent Christian.

Especially he thought of his father, and wondered where he was, how soon he would be home, and what kind of a present he would bring this time.

Fred's father was a sea-captain. He had once been very successful in business; but two years before the time I have written about, his vessel was wrecked, and he barely escaped with his life.

As he could not afford to lose his time in waiting for the command of a new ship, he took the situation of first mate, in which he had continued ever since. It was now a few days more than a year since he sailed, and Hatty noticed that her mother began to watch the clouds more than she had done, while she supposed him too far off the coast to be affected by storms. Still as he was not now the captain, he might not be able to leave the vessel at once, even if it had arrived in port.

Mrs. Carleton said little to her children of the subject which filled her heart; but night after night, while they were soundly sleeping, she prayed that he from whom she had been separated so many weary months might be brought in safety to his home.

CHAPTER VI.

THE STRANGE VISITOR.

The day of the examination arrived at last. The new suit was completed and hanging in the closet. The nicely starched collar, and the pretty brown bow were laid with a clean pocket-handkerchief in the drawer.

Fred had been very diligent in reviewing his lessons; but as the time drew near when he would be called out to recite, his heart beat fast with excitement.

"I wish the examination was over," he said a dozen times. "I'm almost sure I shall miss in geography. I can say my piece just as well as can be; but when I see all the people looking, I'm afraid I shall forget every word."

The day was fine; and Mrs. Carleton and Hatty left home at an early hour so as to secure seats in the crowded hall.

There was a raised stage at one end, on which the scholars stood while examined by the committee, who occupied seats on the opposite platform, the visitors filling up all the vacant s.p.a.ce.

The exercises of examination were interesting to the parents, each feeling a natural desire that his or her child should excel; and then the teacher announced that there would be speaking from the first cla.s.s.

Just at this moment Hatty's bright eyes noticed a stranger enter the door, who was at once invited to a seat of honor near the committee.

There was something about his eyes that startled her. They wandered quickly about the room as if in search of some one, and then fixed themselves gravely upon the school. The lower part of his face was completely hidden by a heavy beard.

Hatty touched her mother, calling her attention to the stranger; but, with scarcely a glance at the gentleman, Mrs. Carleton gave her attention to the speaking.

At the close of the school, a member of the committee, 'Squire Long, arose and said to the teacher,--

"I am so much pleased with your boys, that I am going to indulge myself with the pleasure of giving each one of them a book to remember me by."

He untied a parcel, and took out some prettily bound volumes, which he proceeded to distribute, to the great joy of the boys.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The scholars generally looked much pleased; but not one, except Fred Carleton, expressed his grat.i.tude. When it came his turn to go forward, his whole face was covered with a rosy flush. He bowed when the volume was put in his hands, and with a cordial "I thank you, sir," retired to his seat.

There were several whispered comments on Fred's conduct; all agreeing that he had done well.

"That boy has a good mother," murmured one of the committee in the ear of the bearded stranger.

The gentleman only bowed.

In the confusion of leaving the hall, Hatty lost sight of the strange visitor; but she could not forget the impression he had made upon her and continued to talk about him all the way home.

"I can't think where I've seen him before. His eyes looked as familiar as possible."

Before they started for the school they had drawn down the curtains and locked the door, Mrs. Carleton taking the key in her pocket. Now, as they approached the house, they were surprised to see the curtains up, and the shed door wide open.

Hatty darted forward to see who was within, and presently, with a joyful scream, was held fast in the arms of the mysterious stranger.

"Husband!" murmured Mrs. Carleton, instantly recognizing him.