The boys turned their faces away, feeling as though it might not be exactly a delicate thing for them to witness the holy joy that accompanied this meeting between their chum Amos and the father who had gone away seven years ago under a cloud, and whose family had believed him to be dead all this time, because he had failed to communicate with them.
Presently Amos called to them to come and meet his father. He seemed almost transformed, such was the happiness shown on his boyish face. Elmer could not believe it was the same sober-looking Amos whom he had come to know; the long-borne burden had been taken from the young shoulders, and thrown aside, never again to bow him down before his time.
So in turn they shook hands with Mr. Codling. He did not look so very much like a homeless tramp, Elmer quickly decided. Indeed, now that he forgot his suffering in the great peace and joy that had come to him, he seemed a very decent-looking and intelligent man indeed; and Elmer liked the kind expression he could see in the returned wanderer’s eyes.
“First of all,” said Elmer, business clean through, “let’s have a look at Perk’s work. It’s possible we may be able to better it; though I reckon he’s done his level best.”
To this the injured man made no remonstrance. Indeed, he could hardly tear his eyes from the face of Amos, who sat there beside him all the time Elmer and Wee Willie went about their work.
“Tell me about your mother, boy,” the wanderer was saying, feverishly. “How is Amanda; yes, and the little ones? Did she take you to her aunt’s as she promised? And oh! I am shivering for fear you may have bad news for me. I’ve stood a great deal, and tried to believe my punishment was just; but I hope there is no break in the family—that all are yet alive.”
“It’s all right, father,” Amos hastened to tell him. “And you’ll never in the wide world know Kittie and Louise, yes, and Peter, the baby you last saw. Why, just think of it, he’s eight now, going to school, and mother says that every day he’s getting to be more like you were when you first knew her.”
This affected Mr. Codling greatly, for his face worked convulsively, though he also smiled through it all.
“Oh! if you only knew how I have suffered, son, all these years,” he went on to say, “but I would not break my vow. They should never see nor hear from me again unless I could wipe out the bitter past. But I am grateful to know that while I wandered the country over, always trying to rise above the level to which I had sunk, at least my dear ones have not suffered from want.”
“Believe me, mother will go wild with joy to see you again,” Amos told him.