"Will he live?" asked Mr. Crawson who had been waiting near the buggy.
"Can't tell. 'Twas a cruel blow. I'm afraid to think of the result. Good day, sir."
For a moment Mr. Crawson stood as though stupefied. He had not been a tender father. He had been brought up roughly himself and had always repelled his sons. But now that Daniel, his favorite, was threatened with danger, his affection burned fiercely; and at the same time his conscience reproached him with neglecting his duty to his boy.
"I wont flinch from what's the right thing to do though," he said clinching his hard hands, so back he went to the door and requested Ellen to call Mr. Dodge.
"You know where to find us if wanted," he faltered. "I'll be surety that he don't run away."
The stricken father bowed assent. He had not the most distant idea of his neighbor's meaning.
Oh, how true the Bible is when it says, "the way of transgressors is hard!" How much suffering not only to themselves but to those connected with them, did these two boys bring about by their disobedience, deceit, truancy and falsehood!
What do you suppose, my little reader, was the most dreadful reflection of the poor mother, as she bent over her boy? It was that her Jimmy had been guilty of so much sin against God.
"Spare his life, Oh my father! Spare him to repent!" was her constant though silent cry. "Take him not away in wrath. Spare him for Christ's sake."
Two hours later when the Doctor came again, Jimmy had roused from his lethargy; but did not recognise any one. His flesh was burning with fever, and occasionally he uttered a shriek of distress. Every symptom was unfavorable; and the Doctor, though kind and sympathetic could not give the stricken parents one word of hope.