10. The widow ended, and the stranger, springing from his seat, clasped her in his arms: “God, indeed, has provided your son a home, and has given him wealth to reward the goodness of his benefactress: my mother! oh, my mother!” It was her long-lost son, returned to her bosom from the Indies. He had chosen that disguise that he might the more completely surprise his family; and never was surprise more perfect, or followed by a sweeter cup of joy.
11. That humble residence in the forest was exchanged for one comfortable, and indeed beautiful, in the valley; and the widow lived long with her dutiful son, in the enjoyment of worldly plenty, and in the delightful employments of virtue; and, at this day, the passer-by is pointed to the willow that spreads its branches above her grave.
[117] Fagˊ-ots; bundles of sticks used for fuel.
[118] Pratˊ-tle; trifling talk.
[119] Disˊ-si-pate; to scatter, to disperse.
[120] Puˊ-ny; small and weak.
[121] Pilˊ-grim-age; the journey of human life.
[122] Com-pli-caˊ-tion; the act of mingling together several things.
[123] Symˊ-pa-thies; compassion.
[124] Gushed; flowed copiously.