, was a
famous singer in America. She must have been very beautiful because
she is still so today. He brought her to Europe to his family. They
were displeased with him because the lady was not of noble birth. They
did not treat her well, and he did not stand by her as would have been
his duty. Because as far as I know him, he is not the man to guard his
wife against the whole world. It may also be that he has been sorry
already, that he had shut himself out of the world because of her,
while on the other hand, many noble ladies were offered him. How it
was among themselves, I do not know. I only know that once, when he
was not at home, she took the boy and fled away. Then they lived in
Budapest. She did not know how to make a living any other way--so she
gave the boy into the care of strange people, and went again to the
theatre. Then came the law suit. He charged her with leaving him, and
she did not want to return to him, so the court separated them. They
adjudged the boy to his father, and so he came to us. While Ondrejko
was with those people, where she cared for him, they told him all good
things about her, but when he came to where his father put him you can
imagine that they did not speak well of her. So the poor boy has heard
all kinds of stories about his mother, and yet he longs for her, and
so I visited the lady today. I wanted to advise her how she could
take the boy herself and acknowledge him today. Therefore I tell you,
Palko, everything, that you may tell Ondrejko who it is that is coming
to us today."

There was silence in the mountains. Bacha looked at the boy deep in
thought. "Will you tell him, Palko?"

"Yes, Uncle. But I must first ask the Lord Jesus for help, for that is
not a small thing. It is good that Ondrejko is already God's lamb. He
will even help his mother to find the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we will
do that part. But, Uncle Filina, when will you tell me that you have
received Him?--that you are His?" The question from the boy, put with
so much loving concern, brought the tears into the man's eyes.

"I do not know myself, what to tell you, my boy. It is all so strange
to me. From the time that I took the Lord Jesus, like Zaccheus,
it seems to me there is no more of that great burden that always
oppressed me. Sometimes it seems to me as if the Son of God was
actually with me, and when I read the Bible it seems as though He is
living in my heart and opens my eyes. Now I don't know, my boy