it on hit
dese words:

'Betwix de stirrup an' de groun'
He mercy axed an' mercy foun.'

"Yassir, he wuz saved." Uncle Brad took the coffee-pot from the glowing
coals and poured a steaming cup of coffee for Shawn. "Shawn, I'm gwine
tuh preach at de chutch Sunday mawnin' an' I want yo' to heah me. I'm
gwine preach on de Prodegale Son, an' hit's gwine tuh be a sarmon."

"I'll be there," said Shawn.

Shawn and Coaly went down the hill. Coaly gave a yelp of delight and
stood barking before the door. Shawn's mother sprang from bed, opened
the door and clasped her son to her breast. "Oh, Shawn, bless God,
you've come!" And Shawn's home had never looked so inviting before.

"Mammy, I'll never leave you again."

He went to sleep in his little room overlooking the river, and he heard
again the night wind crooning through the trees and the night owl's
tones echoing through the distant wood. His heart was warm again in the
glow of sweet memories. He was in his old home.

The next day found Shawn enjoying the surprising event of being
cordially welcomed by the inhabitants of the town. The worst sort of
straggler is often astonished at the kindly interest accorded him upon
returning to his old home. Old Doctor Hissong greeted him by saying,
"Hello, been seeing the world, have you?" When he went up to the Alden
home, he found the same good friend there; the same sweet smile and the
kind words, and Mrs. Alden still anxious to help him and guide him to
better pathways, urging upon him the great need of an education, and
Shawn promised to return to school.

"Don't fergit about dat sarmon," said old Brad, "I'm gwine tuh look fer
yo' at de chutch termorrer."

CHAPTER VIII

DE PRODEGALE SON

Shawn found a seat on one of the benches reserved for the white people.
Uncle Brad was in the pulpit. He arose, in all of the dignity of the
occasion. The little church was well filled with colored people. After a
song and prayer, uncle Brad came forward and began reading, to all
appearances, from the last half of the fifteenth chapter of Luke.
Closing the Bible, he began, "I have read fo' yo' heahin' de story uv de
Prodegale Son. Dis hyar boy, han'sum an' smart, bergin to git tired uv
de fawm--he heer'd de boys frum de city tellin' erbout de great doin's
down dar, en de mo' he look eroun' de mo' de ole place los' hit's chawm,
en fine'ly he goes to hi' daddy en says, says he, 'Pap, I dun git to de
age when I waun' see sum uv d