be my duty as a Christian--my duty as a mother, to talk
with you as I am now doing. God knows bow fearful was the struggle
within my mind before I could bring myself to the determination I
have. But I am resolved now; the scales have fallen from my eyes, and
I can plainly see both your danger and my own. You are trembling upon
the very brink of destruction, and I would ever feel as if there were
a curse upon my soul, were I to see it all, and yet not endeavor to
save you. I have come to an unshaken determination. There must be a
reformation."

"Another sermon, I suppose. It is bad enough to hear one every Sunday,
but one every day is intolerable _and_ insufferable," insolently broke
in the lad, and he kicked the cat across the room, and began to
whistle snatches of a lively air.

The widow turned with a deep sigh to the window, while a gleam of
sharp agony shot across her face, and then seeming not to heed the
interruption, she continued:

"Yesterday I was in the village, and saw Mr. Warwick, the saddler. I
have made arrangements with him for your becoming an apprentice to the
trade, and to-morrow you are to go there. It is the best thing I can
do for you, David, and the fullness of a mother's heart alone prompted
it. If you conduct yourself properly, you may still become an
honorable man, and occupy an honorable station in society; but if you
persist in your vicious habits, God only knows where you will end."
Here she paused for a moment, and then added: "To-night I am going
away for some hours. Mrs. Williams is very sick, perhaps dying, and
has sent for me. I may not return until quite late, but, in the
morning before you go, we can talk this subject over fully."

There was such an earnestness and depth of feeling in his mother's
remarks, that David White felt but little inclined to reply the second
time, but the dark thoughts and evil feelings rankled deeply in his
heart, though no tongue gave them utterance.

Widow White gazed intently into the fire for several minutes after she
had ceased speaking, and then taking her bonnet from the bed, advanced
to the door, but stopped a moment on its threshold, and turning to her
son, said, "Should you become drowsy before I return, carefully cover
up the fire ere retiring to bed." She closed it after her, and David
was alone.

He stood still until the last echo of his mother's footsteps died away
in the distance, and then crept stealthily to the front window, where,
se