When he was an old man he wanted to speak to a friend about certain people whose offenses he had never forgiven. He had been the unwanted child, so he had been told, of an elderly father and a young mother. He had been born into a home that was exceedingly religious in a narrow strict and hard way. It was a home in which there was more law than gospel, certainly more law than love. As the little boy grew up, the influence of his father faded away. And he was brought up by his young mother and an uncle. The uncle became his idol. He imitated his uncle in every possible way.

The uncle was his friend. It was to his uncle he ran when he was hurt or frightened or when he had a secret to share. No little boy ever loved an uncle as he came to love this wonderful man. One day, a Sunday, he starte…