第18部分(第6/7 頁)

he　started　slowly　across　the　street；　moving；　he　thought　withwonder；　like　an　old　woman。

‘Well；　she　ain’t　going　to　be　out　to　service　this　morning；　I　tell　you　that；’　said　Elisha；　andyawned　again。

‘And　look　like　you　going　to　be　half　asleep；’　John　said　‘Now　don’t　you　mess　with　me　this　morning；’　Elisha　said；　‘because　you　ain’t　got　so　holy　Ican’t　turn　you　over　my　knee。　I’s　your　big　brother　in　the　Lord—you　just　remember　that。’

Now　they　were　on　the　near　corner。　His　father　and　mother　were　saying　good…bye　to　PrayingMother　Washington；　and　Sister　McCandless；　and　Sister　Price。　The　praying　woman　waved　to　them；and　they　waved　back。　Then　his　mother　and　his　father　were　alone；　ing　toward　them‘Elisha；’　said　John；　‘Elisha。’

‘Yes；’　said　Elisha；　‘what　you　want　now？’

John；　staring　at　Elisha；　struggled　to　tell　him　something　more—struggled　to　say—all　thatcould　never　be　said。　Yet：　‘I　was　down　in　the　valley；’　he　dared；　‘I　was　by　myself　down　there。　Iwon’t　never　forget。　May　God　forget　me　if　I　forget。’

Then　his　mother　and　his　father　were　before　them。　His　mother　smiled；　and　took　Elisha’soutstretched　hand。

‘Praise　the　Lord　this　morning；’　said　Elisha。　‘He　done　give　us　something　to　praise　Him　for。’

‘Amen；’　said　his　mother；　praise　the　Lord！’

John　moved　up　to　the　short；　stone　step；　smiling　a　little；　looking　down　on　them。　His　motherpassed　him；　and　started　into　the　house。

‘You　better　e　on　upstairs；’　she　said；　still　smiling；　‘and　take　off　them　wet　clothes。　Don’twant　you　catching　cold。’

And　her　smile　remained　unreadable；　he　could　not　tell　what　it　hid。　And　to　escape　her　eyes；he　kissed　her；　saying；　‘Yes；　Mama。　I’m　ing。’

She　stood　behind　him；　in　the　doorway；　waiting。

‘Praise　the　Lord；　Deacon；’　Elisha　said。　‘See　you　at　the　mo