SKEGEMOG POINT 195 



turned away from the burial and, Christian man 

 though he was, that son could not feel that his 

 mother was. Have you ever felt that one who has 

 been a part of your life, is not only dead, but has 

 utterly and entirely ceased to be? He told himself 

 that she whom he had loved so passionately was 

 safe in our Father's house, and he believed it but 

 he could not feel it. The days and weeks and 

 months had come and gone, and still there had 

 come to his heart whatever his head might affirm 

 no comforting sense that his mother still lived, 

 safe-sheltered in a better country. He was sitting 

 by himself that day, far up in the bow of the boat, 

 drinking in the beauty of earth and sky and lake. 

 It all brought back other and golden days when 

 he and his mother had been together on the ma- 

 jestic St. Lawrence, and then, all at once She was 

 at hand. He felt her presence like a benediction. 

 He heard no voice, saw no vision; but somehow 

 his soul sensed her nearness, and his sore heart 

 knew a comfort that has never departed and never 

 lessened in the years that have come and gone 

 since that hour. 



