"Growing weaker every moment, my son," the woman feebly answered. Then anxiously: "Didn't I hear you say that you had been stoning the minister?"
"Only to knock his hat off, mam," he replied. Then, knowing it would please his mother, he added: "But he got the best of me, as I have promised to go up to his church next Sunday."
"The Lord be praised for that!" fervently ejaculated his mother. "If you would only go every Sunday, Ray."
"Perhaps I'll like it so well I'll keep on going." And the boy laughed at the very thought.
Then the whistle blew, and he hurried off to the mill.
Two hours later his sister-in-law came hurriedly into the mill, and, with blanched cheeks, said:
"Ray, your mother is dying, and wants you at once."
"Have you told pop?" he inquired, adjusting his jack so that he could leave it.
"Yes, and the others," she hastily replied. "Your sisters are over at the house already; but father and the boys won't come."
With a word of explanation to the overseer of his room, Ray started on the run for the house. His mother was still conscious when he entered the room, and, recognizing him, gasped out: