“How shall I then receive Thee? 
     And how shall I then meet Thee? 
     Oh, Thou, the world’s desire
     Who set’st my heart on fire!”

Like lightning Erick was away out of the midst of his companions to the church-door and into the church.

Churi grew pale from fright; he believed nothing less than that Erick had rushed into the church to betray publicly to the whole congregation the intended grape-theft.  Instantly he turned around and ran away like a madman, for he firmly believed that half the congregation was on his heels, since he heard a crowd running after him.  But the runners were his companions, who followed him in greatest haste, for since they saw the brave Churi run like fire, they thought that there must be great danger, and they rushed with always longer and longer leaps after him.

Erick had run into the midst of a crowd of people, who all stood in the passage of the church because there were no more seats on the benches, so full was the church.  Now the hymn, accompanied by the organ, rushed like a big, full stream on through the church: 

     “Thy Zion scatters palms
     And greening twigs for Thee,
     But I in glorious psalms
     Will lift my soul to Thee! 
     My heart be overflowing
     In constant love and praise
     In service will be growing,
     Will Thy dear name then grace.”

In breathless attention Erick stood there, for it was his mother’s song!  He was trembling in every limb and large tears ran down his cheeks.  A woman who sat near him noticed the trembling little fellow; she drew him compassionately close to her and made a little room for him, so that he could sit down.

The singing had stopped and the pastor began to preach.  During the sermon Erick recovered a little from the strong emotion which had quite overpowered him when he suddenly heard in such powerful tones his lost song again.

He now looked round and saw that he was firmly wedged in and could not move, for two more women had forced themselves between the sitters, and the whole passage the full length of the church was densely thronged with people.  So Erick sat, quiet as a mouse, and did not stir until the sermon and prayer were at an end.  Then once more the full tones of the organ sounded and the congregation rose and sang: 

     “I lay in heaviest fetters,
     Thou com’st and set’st me free;
     I stood in shame and sorrow,
     Thou callest me to Thee;
     And lift’st me up to honor
     And giv’st me heavenly joys
     Which cannot be diminished
     By earthly scorn and noise.”

His mother had sung that at the very last.  Erick saw her again before him, as she had sat the last evening at the piano and had spoken to him with words so full of love; and then, in the morning, she had lain there so still and pale.  He laid his head on the arm of the bench and sobbed as if his heart would break.  The people passed by him, and here and there one woman said to another:  “The poor little fellow, he has no one on this earth,” and then they went out.