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, what more can I do.”

“Oh, Uncle,” Palko began to jump for joy.  “Really, you have already accepted Him.  He came and took away your load, and threw it behind God’s back.”

“What do you say, boy?” said the surprised man.  “Is that all?”

“Yes, that is all.  We are only to believe Him.  You know well how He said, ’Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’  Don’t you believe He means what He says?”

“I do believe, my boy, and already believe, and even understand all like Zaccheus.  He came to seek and to save that which was lost.  He came to seek even me, the lost sinner, and I let Him find me.”