第16部分(第5/7 頁)

real。’

‘And　you　see　the　way　the　Lord　worked　with　young　Elisha　there？’　said　Praying　MotherWashington；　with　a　calm；　sweet　smile。　‘Had　that　boy　down　there　on　the　floor　a…prophesying　intongues；　amen；　just　the　very　minute　before　Johnny　fell　out　a…screaming；　and　a…crying　before　theLord。　Look　like　the　Lord　was　using　Elisha　to　say：　“It’s　time；　boy；　e　on　home。”　’

‘Well；　He　is　a　wonder；’　said　Sister　Price。　‘And　Johnny’s　got　two　brothers　now。’

Elizabeth　said　nothing。　She　walked　with　her　head　bowed；　hands　clasped　lightly　before　her。

Sister　Price　turned　tom　look　at　her；　and　smiled。

‘I　know；’　she　said；　‘you’s　a　mighty　happy　woman　this　morning。’

Elizabeth　smiled　and　raised　her　head；　but　did　not　look　directly　at　Sister　Price。　She　lookedahead；　down　the　long　avenue；　where　Gabriel　walked　with　Florence；　where　John　walked　withElisha。

‘Yes；’　she　said；　at　last。　‘I　began　praying。　And　I　ain’t　sopped　praying　yet。’

‘Yes；　Lord；’　said　Sister　Price；　‘can’t　none　of　us　stop　praying　till　we　see　His　blessed　face。’

‘But　I　bet　you　didn’t　never　think；’　said　Sister　McCandless；　with　a　laugh；　‘that　little　Johnnywas　going　to　jump　up　so　soon；　and　get　religion。　Bless　our　God！’

‘The　Lord　is　going　to　bless　that　boy；　you　mark　my　words；’　said　Praying　MotherWashington。

‘Shake　hands　with　the　preacher；　Johnny。’

‘Got　a　man　in　the　Bible；　son；　who　liked　music；　too。　And　he　got　to　dancing　one　day　beforethe　Lord。　You　reckon　you　going　to　dance　before　the　Lord　one　of　these　days？’

‘Yes；　Lord；’　said　Sister　Price；　‘the　Lord　done　raised　you　up　a　holy　son。　He　going　to　fortyour　grey　hairs。’

Elizabeth　found　that　her　tears　were　falling；　slowly；　bitterly；　in　the　morning　light。　‘I　pray　theLord；’　she　said；　‘to　bear　him　up　on　every　side。’