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Updated: September 5, 2025
Recovering himself, instantly, he found his mother in a state of unconsciousness, with blood flowing from a deep cut in her forehead. In a state of semi-bewilderment the poor boy followed the stretcher, on which Mrs Matterby was carried to the nearest hospital, where he waited while his mother's injuries were examined.
Yes, it is she, and but let Mrs Matterby explain. "Now, Jack," said that lady in a firm tone, "it's of no use your asking question after question of every one in this way, and not even waiting for answers, and everybody speaking at once " "Excuse me, dearest mother, Miss Nellie Grove has not yet spoken at all." "Miss Nellie, indeed! Times are changed," murmured Natty, with a look of surprise.
It is due to him to say, however, that he had not up to that time, been guilty of any criminal act that could bring him with the grasp of human law; but in word and deed he had begun, more and more, to break the law of God: so that if poor Mrs Matterby had at that time succeeded in finding her son, it is probable that her joy would have been overwhelmed with terrible grief.
"Most happily for me," continued Mrs Matterby, "Nellie lost her situation at the time I speak of, owing to the death of her employer. Thus I had the chance of securing her at once. And now, here we have been together for some years, and I hope we may never part as long as we live. We had considerable difficulty in getting old Nell to quit the cottage and come here.
It was long before Mrs Matterby recovered, for the disappearance of her boy caused a relapse; and when at last she left the hospital, feeble and homeless, she went about for many months, searching at once for work and for her lost treasure. Christmas came again, and found Jack Matterby at nearly the lowest point in his downward career.
"Now, Jack, let me ask you one question," she said; "would you like to go to Canada?" With tremendous energy Jack answered, "Wouldn't I!" "Then," said the old lady, "to Canada you shall go." And Jack Matterby went! But before he went he had to go through a preliminary training, for his regular schooling had ceased when his father died, and he had learned no trade.
"Jack," said Mrs Matterby, on the Christmas morning which ushered in her boy's ninth birthday, "come, I'm going to give you a treat to-day." "You always do, mammy, on my birthdays," said Jack. "I want you to go with a message to a poor woman," continued the mother. "Is that all?" exclaimed Jack, with a disappointed look.
There are times of affliction, when the human soul fails to find relief in tears or cries. Poor Jack Matterby stood for some time motionless, as if paralysed, with glaring eyes and a face not unlike to that of death. They sought to rouse him, but he could not speak.
"Nevertheless this little man is to be John, like the rest of us." Mrs Matterby, being meek, gave in; but she did so with a sigh, for she wished the little one to be named Joseph, after her own deceased father. Thus it came to pass that the child was named John. The name was expanded to Johnny during the first period of childhood.
He watched him while he inquired at the gate of the hospital, and, after he had gone, went up timidly, rang the bell, and asked for his mother. "Mrs Matterby?" repeated the porter. "Come in; I'll make inquiry." The report which he brought back fell like the blow of a sledge-hammer on the poor boy's heart. His mother, they told him, was dead. She had died suddenly in the night.
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