“Yes, I do, mother,” he replied, looking frankly into her eyes. “I never forget how frightened and troubled I often was. Sometimes we sing one of the songs you taught me in the evening, but I sing them quite differently now. I used only to enjoy the tune, but now I thank and praise God from the bottom of my heart.”
“If you should ever get into a difficult position, Vinzi,” the mother concluded, “you must remember that God often means to work out our good when we fear evil. When I sat on this bed before you went away the first time, I should in my shortsightedness have done everything to keep you home. And just think! That journey proved the beginning of your great happiness.”
Vinzi had listened attentively. “It was the same with me,” he said. “I thought it was the most dreadful thing that could happen to me and it proved just the opposite. I’ll always remember that, mother.”
When the mother left Vinzi’s chamber after a hearty good-night, her heart was filled with gratitude and bliss. Folding her hands she sent up a heartfelt prayer of thanks to Heaven.
What blessings God had sent to her and her household. Her boy’s inmost wish had been fulfilled and his future lay clearly before him. The father was not only satisfied, but actually pleased. He did not despise his Vinzi any more, because he realized that he could be truly proud of the boy and he showed it quite openly in the way he looked at him.
Vinzi had been away a long while and had lived in totally different surroundings. He had learned a great deal, but had remained just as affectionate and simple as when he had gone away. This made his mother extremely happy, and she sent a fervent prayer to God to keep him pious and childlike upon all the paths of his coming life.
The End
FOOTNOTES:
[A] The Gemmi is a remarkable mountain pass across the Alps.