第16部分(第4/7 頁)

　…　that　wants　to　cut　down　my　soul。’

Then　his　tears　came　down　again；　like　a　wall　between　him　and　his　father。　His　Aunt　Florencecame　and　took　him　in　her　arms。　Her　eyes　were　dry；　and　her　face　was　old　in　the　savage；　morninglight。　But　her　voice；　when　she　spoke；　was　gentler　that　he　had　ever　known　it　to　be　before。

‘You　fight　the　good　fight；’　she　said；　‘you　hear？　Don’t　you　get　weary；　and　don’t　you　getscared。　Because　I　know　the　Lord’s　done　laid　His　hands　on　you。’

‘Yes；’　he　said；　weeping；　‘yes。　I’m　going　to　serve　the　Lord。’

‘Amen！’　cried　Elisha。　‘Bless　our　God！’

The　filthy　streets　rang　with　the　early…morning　light　as　they　came　out　of　the　temple。

They　were　all　there；　save　young　Ella　Mae；　who　had　departed　while　John　was　still　on　thefloor—she　had　a　bad　cold；　said　Praying　Mother　Washington；　and　needed　to　have　her　rest。　Now；　inthree　groups；　they　walked　the　long；　gray；　silent　avenue：　Praying　Mother　Washington　withElizabeth　and　Sister　McCandless　and　Sister　Price；　and　before　them　Gabriel　and　Florence；　andElisha　and　John　ahead。

‘You　know；　the　Lord　is　a　wonder；’　said　the　praying　mother。　‘Don’t　you　know；　all　this　weekHe　just　burdened　my　soul；　and　kept　me　a…praying　and　a…weeping　before　Him？　Look　like　I　justcouldn’t　get　no　ease　nohow—and　I　know　He　had　me　a…tarrying　for　that　boy’s　soul。’

‘Well；　amen；’　said　Sister　Price。　‘Look　like　the　Lord　just　wanted　this　church　to　rock。　Youremember　how　He　spoke　through　Sister　McCandless　Friday　night；　and　told　us　to　pray；　and　He’dwork　a　mighty　wonder　in　our　midst？　And　He　done　moved—hallelujah—He　done　troubledeverybody’s　mind。’

‘I　just　tell　you；’　said　Sister　McCandless；　‘all　you　got　to　do　is　listen　to　the　Lord；　He’ll　leadyou　right　every　time；　He’ll　move　every　time。　Can’t　nobody　tell　me　my　God　ain’t