第16部分(第3/7 頁)

only—and　now；　looking　at　his　mother；　he　knew　that　he　couldnever　tell　it—that　the　heart　was　a　fearful　place。　She　kissed　him；　and　she　said：　‘I’m　mighty　proud；Johnny。　You　keep　the　faith。　I’m　going　to　be　praying　for　you　till　the　Lord　puts　me　in　my　grave。’

Then　he　stood　before　his　father。　In　the　moment　that　he　forced　himself　to　raise　his　eyes　andlook　into　his　father’s　face；　he　felt　in　himself　a　stiffening；　and　a　panic　and　a　blind　rebellion；　and　ahope　for　peace。　The　tears　still　on　his　face；　and　smiling　still；　he　said：　‘Praise　the　Lord。’

‘Praise　the　Lord；’　said　his　father。　He　did　not　move　to　touch　him；　did　not　kiss　him；　did　notsmile。　They　stood　before　each　other　in　silence；　while　the　saints　rejoiced；　and　John　struggled　tospeak　the　authoritative；　the　living　word　that　would　conquer　the　great　division　between　his　fatherand　himself。　But　it　did　not　e；　the　living　word；　in　the　silence　something　died　in　John；　andsomething　came　alive。　It　came　to　him　that　he　must　testify：　his　tongue　only　could　bear　witness　tothe　wonders　he　had　seen。　And　he　remembered；　suddenly；　the　text　of　a　sermon　he　had　once　heardhis　father　preach。　And　he　opened　his　mouth；　feeling；　as　he　watched　his　father；　the　darkness　roarbehind　him；　and　the　very　earth　beneath　him　seem　to　shake；　yet　he　gave　to　his　father　their　montestimony。　‘I’m　saved；’　he　said；　‘and　I　know　I’m　saved。’　And　then；　as　his　father　did　not　speak；　herepeated　his　father’s　text：　‘My　witness　is　in　Heaven　and　my　record　is　on　high。’

‘It　e　from　your　mouth；’　said　his　father　then。　‘I　want　to　see　you　live　it。　It’s　more　than　anotion；’

‘I’m　going　to　pray　God；’　said　John—and　his　voice　shook；　whether　with　joy　or　grief　hecould　not　say—‘to　keep　me；　and　make　me　strong　…　to　stand　…　to　stand　against　the　enemy　…　andagainst　everything　and　everybody