intemperance, of his gaming, of his wild and desperate
career--which might have ended, as I supposed it had done, on the
gallows--but a foolish, weak, selfish mother, who did not do her duty to
him in his childhood? It is I who was his great enemy--I who assisted
the devil to lead him to destruction--I who, had he been hanged, had
been, and have felt for years that I was, his executioner. Can I forgive
him! Can _he_ forgive _me_?"

"Mother, his time is short--I will come to you again, and tell you much
more. But if you knew how earnest he is to have your forgiveness before
he dies, you would at once send me away to him."

"Then go, my child--go, and may you often be sent on such kind missions!
Go, and tell my poor James that his mother forgives him--begs to be
forgiven--still dotes upon him--and God knows with how much pleasure
would die for him! Go quick, child--the sands of the glass run
fast--quick, child--the dying cannot wait--quick--quick!"

Nanny had risen from her stool and taken me by the arm; when we were
clear of the threshold she loosed me, and sank down to the earth,
whether overcome by her feelings, or in a state of insensibility, I did
not wait to ascertain--I fled to execute my mission before it was too
late.

In a few minutes I was at the hospital--breathless, it was true. I went
in, and found Spicer still alive, for his eyes turned to me. I went up
to him; the nurse, who was standing by him, told me he was speechless,
and would soon be gone. I told her I would remain with him, and she went
to the other patients. I gave him his mother's message, and he was
satisfied; he squeezed my hand, and a smile, which appeared to illumine
like a rainbow his usual dark and moody countenance, intimated hope and
joy; in a few seconds he was no more, but the smile continued on his
features after death.

I then returned to old Nanny, who, I found, had been put into bed by
some neighbors, and at her bedside was Mrs. St. Felix, who had been
passing by and had observed her situation. She was now recovered and
quiet. As soon as they had left her I entered into a more full detail of
how I became acquainted with the circumstances which led to the
discovery. I did not conceal from her that it was her own son who had
attempted the robbery; and I wound up by stating that he had died, I
really believed, not only penitent, but happy from having received her
forgiveness.

"Jack--Jack--you have been as good as an angel to me