When I thus returned unexpectedly to my home my mother was at once
aware, from my downcast appearance, that something was wrong, and when
she questioned me I related the difficulty with Mr. Judson exactly as it
took place. My mother listened attentively till I had finished, and then
only said, "you are too much excited to talk of the matter at present;
after a night's rest you will be better able to talk with more calmness,
so we will defer any further conversation upon the subject until
to-morrow morning."
It was a mild evening in June, and slipping out of the house, I went to
my favorite tree in the yard, and, as I lay at full length beneath its
wide-spreading boughs, which were bright with the rays of the full round
moon, my mind was busy with many anxious thoughts. My anger had by this
time cooled down, and when left thus alone I began to question if I had
acted right in returning to my home; hard as Mr. Judson was to please,
he always paid me my wages punctually, and I feared I had done wrong in
thus depriving my kind mother of the assistance which my earnings (small
as they were) afforded her. But when I called to mind the Farmer's harsh
and unkind treatment, I felt that to remain longer with him was out of
the question; for during the whole year I remained with him, I could not
remember one word of encouragement or kindness, and, to a boy of
thirteen, a kind and encouraging word is worth much. Surely thought I,
every one is not like Farmer Judson, and can I not find some place
where, if I do my best to please, I shall not be continually scolded and
blamed; and, after retiring to rest, I lay awake, revolving all these
thing's in my boyish mind till I mentally decided that, come what would,
I _could not_ return to the Farmer. It was far into the hours of night
before I slept, and then my sleep was harassed by frightful dreams, in
all of which Farmer Judson acted a prominent part. From my earliest
recollection, the counsels and pious example of my mother had exercised
a powerful influence upon my mind and character. She was naturally
cheerful and hopeful, and her heart had long been under the influence of
a deep and devoted piety, which exhibited itself in her every-day life.
She never allowed herself to be too much cast down by the petty
annoyances of life. I am an old man now, and the silver threads are
beginning to mingle in my hair, but I can yet see my mother as I saw her
the next morning when I went down stairs, and in a pleasant cheerful
voice she enquired if I had slept well. I gave an evasive reply, for I
did not like to tell her what a restless, miserable night I had passed.
When the breakfast things were cleared away, my mother seated herself by
my side, and said: "Upon reflection, my son, I have decided that you had
best not return to Mr. Judson." These were joyful words to me, for I had
feared my mother would decide otherwise, and I had never disobeyed her,
but it would have been hard, _very_ hard for me to obey had she wished
me to return to my employer. Little Flora was, if possible, more pleased
than myself at the decision; with a low cry of joy, she threw her arms
around my neck, saying "Oh! Walter, I am _so_ glad that Mamma will not
send you back to that old man." Poor child, she had never before been
separated from her brother, and she had sadly missed her playmate during
the past year. "Although," continued my mother "you may not have been
free from blame, I think Mr. Judson acted very wrong. If, as I trust, is
the case, you have told me the truth, I consider you blameable in two
points only, first, in neglecting your work in the absence of your
employer, and, secondly, in allowing yourself to use disrespectful
language to him." While my mother was yet speaking, the door opened and
Farmer Judson entered the room, without the ceremony of knocking, and
began talking (as was his custom when angry) in a very loud and stormy
voice, "Pray be seated, Mr. Judson," said my mother, "and when you
become a little more composed I shall be pleased to listen to anything
you may wish to say." He did not take the proffered seat, but muttered
something about "people putting on airs," and turning sharply upon me,
he said, "I hain't got no more time to waste talkin, so get your hat and
come back to your work and no more about it." I did not move, but waited
for my mother to speak,--with a voice of much composure, she replied to
him, saying: "I have decided, Mr. Judson, that Walter had best not
return to you. Till last evening I have never from him heard the first
word of complaint;" in a straight forward manner she then repeated what
I had said upon my return home. "My son informs me," added my mother,
"that in more than one instance he has endured blows from you, and for
very little cause; had I before been aware of this he should have left
you at once; for my boy is not a slave to be driven with the lash. I
have no doubt that his conduct may in many instances have been
blameable. I am sorry that he allowed himself at the last to speak
disrespectfully to you, but you must be aware that his provocation
was great, and we must not look for perfection in a boy of thirteen.
Considering all things, I think he had best remain no longer in your
employ; for to subject him longer to a temper so capricious as yours,
would be, I fear, to injure his disposition."
Mr. Judson was unable to gainsay one word my mother had said, and to
conceal his mortification got into a towering passion, and used some
very severe language which deeply wounded my mother's feelings. As he
strode angrily from the room he said, "You need not expect anything else
but to come to beggary if you keep a great fellow like that lazin' round
in idleness, and I, for one, shall not pity you, depend on't." With
these words he left the house, closing the door after him with a loud
bang. It was indeed a welcome relief when he left us alone. My little
sister had crept close to me the moment the angry Farmer entered the
room, where she remained: trembling with fear till he was fairly out of
hearing, when she exclaimed, "I hope that ugly old man will never come
here again. Wasn't you afraid, Mamma?"
"No, dear," replied my mother, with a smile; "and let us hope if ever he
does visit us again he will be in a better temper."
I wished at once to set about looking for another situation; but my
mother advised me to remain at home and rest for a time. Little Flora
was delighted when she found that I was to remain at home, for a time
at least.