When  his  sufferings  became  intolerable,  he  mounted  his  horse  to
seek  his  mother,  and  ask  her  sympathy  and  advice.  The  arrested  man
thought  of  the  instructions  of  his  childhood,  and  in  the  time  of  his
distress  fled  to  his  mother's  bosom.  With  great  simplicity  he  told
her  his  feelings  about  himself  and  God,  and  religion,  and  death;
and  inquired  what  he  should  do  in  his  strange  case.  To  his  utter
Borprise,  his  mother,  instead  of  expressing  sympathy  or  giving
oounsel,  exclaimed  with  tears  —  "  My  son !  thia  is  the  very  thing  for
whioh  I  have  prayed  for  years  !"  She  then  broke  forth  in  ascrip-
tions of  praise  and  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God,  for  his  wonderful
mercy  in  bringing  her  son  under  conviction.  He  stood  and  won-
dered if  his  mother  had  gone  crazy.  Her  rejoicing  added  to  his
ffrief.  Knowing  his  characteristic  fondness  and  honesty,  his  mothelr
aid  not  for  a  moment  doubt  the  reality  of  her  son's  convictions ;  she
believed  the  strong  man  armed  was  seized  by  one  stronger  than  he;
and  she  rejoiced  in  his  convictions  and  sorrow  of  heart,  as  the  fore-
runners of  peace  in  believing.  When  her  first  gush  of  joy  was  passed
she  gave  the  counsel  a  Christian  mother  might  give  her  son.  He
attended  preaching,  sought  instruction,  went  to  prayer -meetings,
prayed  in  private,  and  read  the  word  of  God.  Wearisome  days  and
sleepless  nights  passed  before  he  could  find  rest  to  his  soul.  He
ooold  make  no  excuse  for  his  sins ;  and  saw  he  deserved  the  worst
from  the  hands  of  God.  In  receiving  mercy,  if  ever  he*  did,  it
seemed  to  him  some  mark  ought  to  be  set  upon  him,  in  memory  of
the  past.
