第18部分(第5/7 頁)

at’s　the　Man　you　got　to　call　on。　That’s　theMan　who　knows。’

They　were　approaching　his　house—his　father’s　house。　In　a　moment　he　must　leave　Elisha；step　out　from　under　his　protecting　arm；　and　walk　alone　into　the　house—alone　with　his　mother　andhis　father。　And　he　was　afraid。　He　wanted　to　stop　and　turn　to　Elisha；　and　tell　him　…　something　forwhich　he　found　no　words。

‘Elisha——’　he　began；　and　looked　into　Elisha’s　face。　Then：　‘You　pray　for　me？　Please　prayfor　me？’

‘I　been　praying；　little　brother；’　Elisha　said；　‘and　I　sure　ain’t　going　to　stop　praying　now。’

‘For　me；’　persisted　John；　his　tears　falling；　‘for　me。’

‘You　know　right　well；’　said　Elisa；　looking　at　him；　‘I　ain’t　going　to　stop　praying　for　thebrother　what　the　Lord　done　give　me。’

Then　they　reached　the　house；　and　paused；　looking　at　each　other；　waiting。　John　saw　that　thesun　was　beginning　to　stir；　somewhere　in　the　sky；　the　silence　of　the　dawn　would　soon　give　way　tothe　trumpets　of　the　morning。　Elisha　took　his　arm　from　John’s　shoulder　and　stood　beside　him；looking　backward。　And　John　looked　back；　seeing　the　saints　approach。

‘Service　is　going　to　be　mighty　late　this　morning；’　Elisha　said；　and　suddenly　grinned　andyawned。

And　John　laughed。　‘But　you　be　there；’　he　asked；　‘won’t　you？　This　morning？’

‘Yes；　little　brother；’　Elisha　laughed；　‘I’m　going　to　be　there。　I　see　I’m　going　to　have　to　dosome　running　to　keep　up　with　you。’

And　they　watched　the　saints。　Now　they　all　stood　on　the　corner；　where　his　Aunt　Florencehad　stopped　to　say　good…bye。　All　the　women　talked　together；　while　his　father　stood　a　little　apart。

His　aunt　and　his　mother　kissed　each　other；　as　he　had　seen　them　do　a　hundred　times；　and　then　hisaunt　turned　to　look　for　them；　and　waved。

They　waved　back；　and　s