[Illustration: PAGE 191-- Imprinted the father's first kiss]

He instantly stooped over the babe, took it in his arms, looked long
and earnestly upon it, put it up near him, again gave it a long, intense
gaze, after which he raised its little mouth to his own, and then
imprinted the father's first kiss upon the fragrant lips of his beloved
first-born. Having gently deposited the precious babe upon its mother's
arm, he caught her hand and imprinted upon her lips a kiss;--but to
those who understand it, we need not describe it--to those who cannot,
we could give no adequate notion of that which we are able in no other
way to describe than by saying that it would seem as if the condensed
enjoyment of a whole life were concentrated into that embrace of the
child and mother.

When this tender scene was over, the midwife commenced--

"Well, if ever a man had raison to be thank--"

"Silence, woman!" he exclaimed in a voice which hushed her almost into
terror.

"Let him alone," said the wife, addressing her, "let him alone, I know
what he feels."

"No," he replied, "even you, Honora, don't know it--my heart, my heart
went astray, and there, undher God and my Saviour, is the being that
will be the salvation of his father."

His wife understood him and was touched; the tears fell fast from her
eyes, and, extending her hand to him, she said, as he clasped it: