第18部分(第3/7 頁)

ng　the　avenue　shiver；causing　the　houses　to　shake—his　heart　swelled；　lifted　up；　faltered；　and　was　dumb。　Out　of　joystrength　came；　strength　that　was　fashioned　to　bear　sorrow；　sorrow　brought　forth　joy。　For　ever？　Thiswas　Ezekiel’s　wheel；　in　the　middle　of　the　burning　air　for　ever—and　the　little　wheel　ran　by　faith；and　the　big　wheel　ran　by　the　grace　of　God。

‘Elisha？’　he　said。

‘If　you　ask　Him　to　bear　you　up；’　said　Elisha；　as　though　he　had　read　his　thoughts；　‘He　won’tnever　let　you　fall。’

‘It　was　you；’　he　said；　‘wasn’t　it；　who　prayed　me　through？’

‘We　was　all　praying；　little　brother；’　said　Elisha；　with　a　smile；　‘but　yes；　I　was　right　over　youthe　whole　time。　Look　like　the　Lord　had　put　you　like　a　burden　on　my　soul。’

‘Was　I　praying　long？’　he　asked。

Elisha　laughed。　‘Well；　you　started　praying　when　it　was　night　and　you　ain’t　stopped　prayingtill　it　was　morning。　That’s　a　right　smart　time；　it　seems　to　me。’

John　smiled；　too；　observing　with　some　wonder　that　a　saint　of　God　could　laugh。

‘Was　you　glad；’　he　asked；　‘to　see　me　at　the　altar？’

Then　he　wondered　why　he　had　asked　this；　and　hoped　Elisha　would　no　think　him　foolish。

‘I　was　mighty　glad；’　said　Elisha　soberly；　‘to　see　little　Johnny　lay　his　sins　on　the　altar；　layhis　life　on　the　altar　and　rise　up；　praising　God。’

Something　shivered　in　him　as　the　word　sin　was　spoken。　Tears　sprang　to　his　eyes　again。

‘Oh；’　he　said；　‘I　pray　God；　I　pray　the　Lord　…　to　make　me　strong　…　to　sanctify　me　wholly　…　andkeep　me　saved！’

‘Yes；’　said　Elisha；　‘you　keep　that　spirit；　and　I　now　the　Lord’s　going　to　see　to　it　that　you　gethome　all　right。’

‘It’s　a　long　way；’　John　said　slowly；　‘ain’t　it？　It’s　a　hard　way。　It’s　uphill　all　the　way。’

‘You　remember　Jesus；’　Elisha　said。　‘You