Mutual Explanations.
“Father, father!” cried Betty, rushing into the house, “come hither; here’s our Sammul come back.”
“Eh! What do ye say? Our Sammul come back?” exclaimed a well-known voice, and Johnson hurried out and clasped his son to his heart. “Eh! the Lord be praised for this,” he cried, with streaming eyes. “I’ve prayed, and prayed for it, till I thought it were past praying for; but come in and sit ye down, and let me look at you.”
Samuel was soon seated, with the whole household gathered round him.
“It is his own self, for sure,” said Betty. “O Sammul, I never thought to see you no more.”
“I should scarce have knowed you, had I met you on the road,” said his father, “you’re so much altered.”
“Ay,” said his sister; “he’s gotten a beard to his face, and he’s taller and browner like, but his eye’s the same—he’s our Sammul, sure enough. You’ll not be for flitting again for a-while,” she said, looking at him half playfully and half in earnest.
“No,” he replied; “I’ve had flitting enough for a bit. But eh, Betty, you’ve growed yourself into a gradely woman. And this is your husband, I reckon, and these are your childer; have you any more?”
“No,” said John Walters; “these two are all. Well, you’re heartily welcome, Samuel. I’m glad to see you. Betty’ll leave fretting now.”
“Ay, and fayther too,” cried Betty. “O Sammul, I am so glad to see you. I’ve prayed, and fayther’s prayed too, scores of times; and he’s had more faith nor me—though we’ve both begun to lose heart—but we’ve never forgot ye, Sammul. Oh, I shall be happy now. The Lord’s too good to me,” she said, with deep emotion; “as the blessed Book says, ‘My cup runneth over’—ay, it do for sure—I’ve got the best husband as ever woman had, (you needn’t be frowning, John, it’s true); and I’ve got fayther, and they’re both total abstainers, and gradely Christians too, and now I’ve got our Sammul.”